Everyone who uses a chopping board warned of common mistake that can be dangerous

When you're a meal, the prep work is crucial - which means having top-notch gear is a must. You can't whip up a storm without quality pots and pans, razor-sharp knives, and other key utensils.

And let's not forget, a sturdy chopping board is vital for dicing all those ingredients before they hit the pan.

But there's a widespread myth about the best material for your chopping board that needs debunking. One particular type could be harbouring germs, and if you don't have a dishwasher, it might be time to consider an alternative.

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A snippet from the beloved programme QI has been doing the rounds on TikTok, sparking a debate about the safest material for chopping boards, reports .

The show's host, Sandi Toksvig, throws out the question: "To prevent bacteria what should your chopping board be made of?" Contrary to popular belief, the answer isn't plastic; it's actually wood.

Comedian and guest panelist Sara Pascoe added: "For ages they thought the plastic ones were better. People thought that wood has these little grooves, and bacteria would go in there and live and multiply."

"But then they actually found that plastic was much worse."

Sandi then mentioned a fact that'll have you eyeing your kitchenware differently: "99.9% of the bacteria that is added to a wooden chopping board has disappeared within three minutes of application.

"And on plastic ones it's all still there," she pointed out, presenting a microscopic snapshot of unwelcome bacteria magnified on the giant screen for everyone to see.

She went on to clarify that the singular benefit of plastic chopping boards is their dishwasher-safe nature, in contrast to their wooden counterparts which are not.

The sweltering heat of the dishwasher ought to annihilate any unwelcome microbes hiding on them after food prep, she added.

Sandi summed up with some advice: "The most important thing, of course, is to wash them and then replace them when they get a bit knackered."