Answers for holiday cooking questions

12/15/2009

•The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line experts at 1-800-BUTTERBALL will answer questions about preparing a holiday turkey through Dec. 26. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 23; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 26. The hotline also will be available on New Year's Eve from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

•Crisco Pie Hotline is back to offer the latest baking, storage tips, time saving hints, and the option to talk to a live pie pro. Call 877-FORPIETIPs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Extended hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 23.

•Ohio State's Food Safety Hotline, a partnership between Kroger and the Center for Innovative Food Technology, has trained students answering calls from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 800-752-2751.

•The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in December. Calls about how to properly handle food, including food safety during power outages: food manufacturer recalls; foodborne illnesses, and the inspection of meat, poultry, and egg products. can be answered

•The Baker's Hotline from King Arthur Flour answers baking questions. Call 800-827-6836.

- Kathie Smith