>From Dressing to De-Stressing. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and tips on topics that callers ask about every year on the Butterball Hotline:
Thanksgiving is tomorrow but the turkey is frozen solid! A recent Butterball Thanksgiving survey1 showed more than half of respondents begin thawing a frozen turkey one to two days before Thanksgiving - far less than the four days recommended by the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. To thaw the turkey more quickly, submerge it in cold water. Leave the bird in the wrapper, place it in a tub or sink of cold tap water breast-side down and allow 30 minutes of thaw time for every pound of turkey. >> Don't have a roasting rack? - Butterball recommends using a flat rack so that the turkey cooks evenly and is raised off the bottom of the pan. If you don't have a flat rack, place two or three large carrots underneath the turkey. >> Only one oven? Nearly half of those surveyed said that they prepare dishes ahead of time to reduce stress during Thanksgiving. Cook the turkey first and get it out of the way. You can keep it piping hot for about an hour after it comes out of the oven by wrapping the entire turkey and pan in foil and placing a large towel on top. This will allow you to finish cooking side dishes and will keep the turkey warm for carving. Make food safety a priority! Practice good food safety procedures to protect against possible foodborne illnesses: wash hands often; keep raw turkey and other foods separated; use a meat thermometer to ensure foods have been cooked to proper temperatures (a minimum temperature of 180F in the thigh and 165F in the center of the stuffing); refrigerate or freeze cooked turkey and leftovers within two hours of carving to reduce temperature to below 40F. New recipe, new pan? Always test out a new recipe or a roasting pan before the big day arrives. This will prevent any surprises if the recipe doesn't taste like you thought it would, or if the turkey doesn't fit into your pan (or the pan doesn't fit in the oven). Overwhelmed with everything to do? Don't be afraid to ask for help - ask guests to bring their own favorite holiday side dish. That way, you get help and guests feel like they've contributed to the meal. Encourage husbands, brothers and friends to roll up their sleeves and tackle a dish. With the percentage of Talk-Line calls from men nearly doubling over the years, it's clear more men are taking an active role in holiday help. Delma --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
