Helpful Hotlines for Holiday Cooking and Baking
If the thought of cooking a Thanksgiving dinner sends you into a panic, here are a few hotlines that you can contact for recipes, tips and advice.
The Brine Line
1-888-334-8977,
Brining your turkey for the first time? Get tips and advice from the folks at The Spice Hunter’s Brining Hotline. Available Monday - Friday: 10:30 AM - 7:30 PM (EST)
Butterball Turkey Talkline
1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372)
Open annually in November and December. “Over the years, the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line experts have solved some puzzling turkey situations, like which pan to use, what to do when the turkey is on fire, and when to start roasting the turkey so it’s ready by halftime.” You can also e-mail your question to talkline@butterball.com
Crisco Pie Hotline
1-877-367-7438
Call Crisco for all your pie making questions and concerns. Available Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM (EST) with extended holiday hours starting November 16th - November 25th Monday -Friday (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM) and December 14th - December 23rd: Monday - Friday (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM)
Empire Kosher Consumer Hotline
1-717-436-7055,
Help is available Monday through Thursday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (EST) and Friday: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (EST). The hotline is closed for Shabbat, secular and religious holidays.
Fleischmann’s Yeast Help Line
1-800-777-4959
For all of your yeast baking questions. Available Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Hershey’s Consumer Hotline
1-800-468-1714
Yum. Chocolate! Hershey’s has got your chocolate questions covered! Help is available Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (EST)
King Arthur Flour Baker’s Hotline
1-802-649-3717
Experienced bakers are available to assist with baking challenges. The hotline operates Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM (EST) and Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST). You can also e-mail your questions to bakers@kingarthurflour.com
Martha Stewart Living Radio Thanksgiving Hotline
1-866-675-6675
Some of the top chefs in the country are gathering to help you cook your best Thanksgiving meal. Call starting Monday, November 23rd through Wednesday, November 25th from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST) and have your question answered by a celebrity chef. Martha Stewart Living Radio can be heard on satellite radio (Sirius 112 and XM 157).
Nestle Live Chat
Log on and chat with one of Nestle’s Very Best Baking experts. The live chat is available Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM (EST) and Saturday: 8:00 AM - 4:00PM (EST).
OceanSpray Cranberries
1-800-662-3263
Have a cranberry question? Call the cranberry experts. Help is available
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (EST).
Shady Brook Farms Turkey Line
1-888-723-4468
Pre-recorded information about turkey selection, preparation, and cooking that is available 24 hours a day. For live help, call 1-800-532-5756 Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (CST). Live help is not available on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHOTLINE (1-888-674-6854)
Have a question or concern about the safe storage, handling, and preparation of meat & poultry products? Food safety specialists are available year-round Monday - Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (EST). You can also e-mail them at mphotline.fsis@usda.gov.
Posted by M. Rorke