Cutting or chopping boards are practical and versatile pieces of kitchen equipment available in a variety of sizes and materials. Boards of tough but resilient white acrylic are best, as they are nonporous and clean easily. While it was believed in the past that wood boards harbored bacteria, recent studies show that they dry out thoroughly, causing bacteria to be killed. It is essential with either type of chopping board to keep it very clean by washing in hot soapy water, then drying well.