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Forgot to defrost the turkey? Click or call for help
By Times Staff, Wires
Published November 18, 2007
Having a bad turkey day? Don't throw in the kitchen towel just yet. Even on Thanksgiving Day, help - some of it in the form of a real person - is just a call or a click away. Here's a sampling.
- Need tips for carving the turkey? Go to dining.tampabay.com and watch a video demonstration of Bil Mitchell, head chef at Publix Super Market's Apron's Cooking School in Tampa. Rule No. 1: Bring the carved meat to the table after you cut up the bird in the kitchen.
- Butterball Turkey Talk Line: toll-free 1-800-288-8372. 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 9 p.m. and until 7 p.m. in December. Automated assistance is always available. Butterball also offers turkey help podcasts for download at www.butterball.com.
- Empire Kosher poultry customer hotline: toll-free 1-800-367-4734. Help is offered year-round from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. On the Web: www.empirekosher.com/index.htm.
- Foster Farms Turkey Helpline: toll-free 1-800-255-7227. Turkey-cooking questions are answered and information is given 24 hours a day through Nov. 26. On the Web: www.fosterfarms.com.
- Ocean Spray consumer help line: toll-free 1-800-662-3263. Year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Offers help with cranberries, as well as recipes, cooking tips, nutritional information and menu-planning worksheets. On the Web: www.oceanspray.com.
- Perdue consumer help line: toll-free 1-800-473-7383. Company representatives answer cooking, storage and other questions about poultry products, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. most weekdays. On the Web: www.perdue.com.
- Reynolds Turkey Tips Hotline: toll-free 1-800-745-4000. A 24-hour automated hotline; advice on turkey defrosting, preparation and cooking options, free brochure and recipes. On the Web: www.reynoldskitchens.com.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Hotline: toll-free 1-888-674-6854. Food safety specialists answer calls in English or Spanish about meat and poultry preparation and cooking questions, year-round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, except Thanksgiving Day, when hours will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day at the same number. On the Web: www.fsis.usda.gov. Enter "poultry hotline" in the search box.
Additional information is available online:
- 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 with videos.
- 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.
Having a bad turkey day? Don't throw in the kitchen towel just yet. Even on Thanksgiving Day, help - some of it in the form of a real person - is just a call or a click away. Here's a sampling. Times staff and wires
- Need tips for carving the turkey? Go to dining.tampabay.com and watch a video demonstration by Bil Mitchell, head chef at Publix Super Market's Apron's Cooking School in Tampa. Rule No. 1: Bring the carved meat to the table after you cut up the bird in the kitchen.
- Butterball Turkey Talk Line: toll-free 1-800-288-8372. 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 9 p.m. and until 7 p.m. in December. Automated assistance is always available. Butterball also offers turkey help podcasts for download at www.butterball.com.
- Empire Kosher poultry customer hotline: toll-free 1-800-367-4734. Help is offered year-round from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. On the Web: www.empirekosher.com/index.htm.
- Foster Farms Turkey Helpline:toll-free 1-800-255-7227. Turkey-cooking questions are answered and information is given 24 hours a day through Nov. 26. On the Web: www.fosterfarms.com.
- Ocean Spray consumer help line: toll-free 1-800-662-3263. Year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Offers help with cranberries, as well as recipes, cooking tips, nutritional information and menu-planning worksheets. On the Web: www.oceanspray.com.
- Perdue consumer help line: toll-free 1-800-473-7383. Company representatives answer cooking, storage and other questions about poultry products, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. most weekdays. On the Web: www.perdue.com.
- Reynolds Turkey Tips Hotline: toll-free 1-800-745-4000. A 24-hour automated hotline; advice on turkey defrosting, preparation and cooking options, free brochure and recipes. On the Web: www.reynoldskitchens.com.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Hotline: toll-free 1-888-674-6854. Food safety specialists answer calls in English or Spanish about meat and poultry preparation and cooking questions, year-round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, except Thanksgiving Day, when hours will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day at the same number. On the Web: www.fsis.usda.gov. Enter "poultry hotline" in the search box.
Additional information is available online:
- 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, more.
- Fine Cooking magazine: www.taunton.com/finecooking. Site includes Thanksgiving survival guide with videos.
- 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.
[Last modified November 15, 2007, 10:48:06]
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