County fire fighters have some helpful tips to keep your Butterball from turning into a fireball if you plan to fry it this Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving this year is Thursday, Nov. 28. And if the thought of preparing a turkey dinner is more fearful than seeing your Aunt Matilde and Uncle Rob, who always greet you with a pinch on the cheek and a bear hug that literally takes your breath away, fear not. There's the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line.
There are other turkey hotlines - Jennie-O has an 800 number and is also available through text as well as live chat via their website, Minnesota has a Twin Cities Turkey Hotline (but not available until Nov. 21) - but perhaps it was because of a November 2001 "West Wing" episode where President Josiah Bartlet (played by Martin Sheen) calls the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line that it gained prominence.
As Bartlet put it, "I need to talk to an expert."
Once the call connects, Bartlet, asks, "Stuffing should be stuffed inside the turkey, am I correct?" "It can always be baked in a casserole dish," comes the reply.
Bartlet then gets to, uh, the meat of his call: "If I cook it inside the turkey, is there a chance I could kill my guests? I'm not saying that's necessarily a deal breaker."
"Well, there are some concerns," the woman answering the calls begins, naming salmonella and campylobacter jejuni as harmful outcomes, both of which can be contracted through eating raw or undercooked poultry. Watch the rest of the call above.
What is the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line?
Butterball's Turkey Talk-Line isn't just for Thanksgiving meal crises. The phone number - 1-800-BUTTERBALL (800-288-8372), or by text at 844-877-3456 - which opened Nov. 1 is available during December, running through Christmas Eve.
For 43 years, Butterball has operated its turkey hotline, with experts on hand via phone to help consumers with their turkey prep questions this year at the following times:
When and how did the Butterball turkey hotline start?
From a group of six home economists, "our 50+ Turkey Talk-Line experts have assisted millions of holiday hosts since the Turkey Talk-Line launched in 1981," said Jan Allen, a Turkey Talk-Line expert, adding that in addition to phone calls, Butterball experts have handled inquiries via texts, email, social media, and live chats.
All of those people have a background in food, including nutrionists, food scientists, chefs and food stylists.
"Each Talk-Line expert also goes through Butterball University prior to our opening on November 1, in which the senior experts walk through the turkey cooking process as well as how to respond to various phone calls throughout the holiday season," Allen added.
Many of the hotline experts have been helping callers for more than 20 years. Allen said she has working the Turkey Talk-Line for 42 years.
"Before Butterball, I was a high school home economics foods teacher, which helped prepare me for my role at Butterball. I love working with people who are interested in preparing delicious nutritious food," Allen said.
She continued, "After leaving the teaching profession, I was a national home economist for Montgomery Ward in the major appliance division and eventually joined Butterball! I cannot imagine not working for Butterball as it has become a tradition for me. I love helping our customers via phone calls, emails and texts to have a Thanksgiving dinner they are proud to share with family and friends."
What questions do people call the Turkey Talk-Line about?
The biggest question posed to the agents of the Turkey Talk-Line is about thawing a turkey, Jay Jandrain, Butterball CEO, told USA TODAY.
Some of the oddest queries?
"They're putting their turkey in the shower overnight in hot water because they forgot to do it the week before. We've got folks who have cut their turkeys with a chain saw, and can they eat it after that? (We recommend no, go get another turkey)," Jandrain said.
"Most of it has to do with thawing,'' he said. "It's interesting to see how challenging that aspect of it is."
By the way, the best way to thaw a turkey, Jandrain said, is to put it in your refrigerator a week before.
Jandarin added Butterball has a new product this year, which will be in limited supply, called Cook from Frozen, which is a turkey that has been brined in a special way that allows it to be cooked without thawing first.
Allen gave two of her favorite stories: