Want to talk turkey? Call the hotlines
The stuffing is dry, the turkey is pink and your relatives are irritating. Rather than let your holiday dinner turn disastrous, consider reaching out to the many groups that offer kitchen help. Their advice can’t fix your loved ones, but it could prevent you from hospitalizing them.
Butterball Turkey Talk-Line: (800) BUTTERBALL. Experts answer holiday cooks’ questions, in English or Spanish, for callers in the United States and Canada. Callers can request a free pamphlet with safety and cooking tips and recipes. Operates most weekdays in November until 6 p.m., and until 4 p.m. PST in December. Automated assistance always available. Butterball also offers turkey help podcasts for download at: www.butterball.com
Empire Kosher poultry customer hot line: (800) 367-4734 or (717) 436-7055. Help is offered year-round Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. PST; Friday, 5a.m. to noon PST. On the Net: www.empirekosher.com/index.htm
Foster Farms Turkey Helpline: (800) 255-7227. Turkey-cooking questions are answered and information given 24 hours a day Nov. 15 through Monday. On the Net: www.fosterfarms.com
Ocean Spray consumer help line: (800) 662-3263. Year-round, weekdays 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. PST. Offers help with cranberries, as well as recipes, cooking tips, nutritional information and menu-planning worksheets. On the Net: www.oceanspray.com
Perdue consumer help line: (800) 473-7383. Company representatives answer cooking, storage and other questions about poultry products most weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST. On the Net: www.perdue.com
Reynolds Turkey Tips Hotline: (800) 745-4000. A year-round 24-hour automated hot line; through Dec. 31 offers advice on turkey defrosting, preparation and cooking options, free brochure and recipes. On the Net: www.reynoldskitchens.comU.S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Hotline: (888) 674-6854 or (888) MPHotline. Food safety specialists answer calls in English or Spanish about meat and poultry preparation and cooking questions, year-round Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. PST, except Thanksgiving Day, when hours will be from 5 to 11 a.m. PST. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day at the same number. On the Net: www.fsis.usda.gov and click on “Food Safety Education,” or send e-mail to: mphotline.fsis@usda.gov.
Additional information available online at:
Better Homes and Gardens magazine: http://recipes.bhg.com. Offers Thanksgiving planning and advice.
Cook’s Illustrated magazine: www.turkeyhelp.com The site features detailed guidance and recipes for preparing turkey and all the trimmings, including apple and pumpkin pies, with bright step-by-step visuals.
Epicurious.com: www.epicurious.com. Offers a Thanksgiving primer and other help.
Fine Cooking magazine: www.taunton.com/finecooking. Site includes Thanksgiving survival guide.
Honeysuckle White: www.honeysucklewhite.com
McCormick: www.mccormick.com. Includes a holiday entertaining guide and recipes.
National Turkey Federation: www.eatturkey.com. The site has Thanksgiving recipes and cooking tips.
Shady Brook Farms: www.shadybrookfarms.com