Your Top Thanksgiving Questions Answered

Check out the top three Thanksgiving hotline questions with answers.

ByABC News
November 6, 2014, 10:52 AM

— -- The holidays are a time of serious stress – especially if you’re hosting. The potential for food gone wrong is high, and so Thanksgiving food companies know they need to have your back. There are a ton of hotline options to solve all your turkey traumas, pie pitfalls, cranberry conundrums and more, but wouldn’t it be better to prevent those in the first place?

Check out the top three Thanksgiving questions Butterball, Betty Crocker and Sara Lee’s hotlines received last year – with the answers! – so your holiday meal can go off without a hitch.

Butterball’s Top Three Thanksgiving-Related Questions
How do I thaw my turkey?
Safely thawing a turkey is one of the most important steps in preparing a meal, and one of the most common questions that leads cooks to Butterball It for the wisdom of the Turkey Talk-Line. There are two recommended methods, depending on the amount of time available. Refrigerator thawing is preferred and the least labor-intensive, but requires more time. Cold water thawing takes less time but requires more attention. Regardless of which method you choose, you should never thaw a turkey at room temperature. To thaw using the refrigerator, thaw breast side up, in an unopened wrapper on a tray in the fridge. Allow at least one day of thawing for every four pounds. For cold water thawing, thaw breast side down in an unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover your turkey completely. Change water every 30 minutes to keep the turkey chilled. Estimate a minimum thawing time of 30 minutes per pound.

What temperature is best to cook a turkey and how do know when it’s done?There is only one way to be sure your turkey is done: the temperature. Use a meat thermometer, inserting it close to, but not touching the thigh bone. If it reads 180 degrees F, you’re ready to serve. If it’s stuffed, check the center of the stuffing to make sure it’s 165 degrees F as well.

How do I use a meat thermometer? There are two main places to check the temperature of the turkey – in the thigh and in the breast. In a whole turkey, insert oven-safe thermometer into area of thigh below drumstick and towards tail. (Or insert thermometer from top of turkey deep into thigh.) Tip of thermometer should be placed in thick part of thigh without touching bone. Position thermometer so that it is pointing towards body cavity. If checking the temperature in the breast of a turkey, insert the oven-safe thermometer deep into thickest part, not touching bone. If you’re still not sure, you can always Butterball It for a step-by-step visual guide.

Betty Crocker’s Top Three Thanksgiving-Related Questions
How much turkey should I plan on per person?
You should plan on about one pound per person. If you will have 12 people over, you need a 12-pound turkey. If you want leftovers, add three to four more pounds.

How do you bake stuffing in a pan rather than stuffed in the turkey?
You can bake extra stuffing in a glass baking dish or casserole. Bake it at 350 degrees F covered for about 25 minutes. Uncover; bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until center is hot and edges are brown.

Stuffing will stay nice and moist, since most of the bake time it is covered.

If stuffing is refrigerated before baking, let dish stand at room temperature to warm the baking dish or casserole. You may need to add about 10 minutes more bake time, covered.

Does pumpkin pie need to be refrigerated?
Yes, pumpkin pie definitely needs to be stored in the refrigerator due to the eggs in the pie.

Sara Lee’s Top Three Thanksgiving-Related Questions
Can I bake a pie and turkey at the same time?
No; avoid baking your pie with your turkey. To bake a perfect golden-brown pie, you must use a higher temperature than you would to cook a turkey for your holiday meal.

Tip: Try baking your pie the night before. If doing this, fruit pies can stay on the counter overnight for one night; pumpkin and sweet potato pies should be kept in the refrigerator after baking.

Can I bake two pies at the same time if they call for different temperatures and bake times?
Yes; when baking two different pies use the lower of the two oven temperatures. Place each pie on a separate baking sheet and check for doneness according to individual package directions.

Tip: Place your pie on a baking sheet when baking. A baking sheet helps brown the bottom crust evenly, provides support for the pie when removing it from the oven, and catches any filling that may spill out during baking.

How do I prevent the edges of my pie from burning?
Line the crust edge with aluminum foil to avoid burning. Place aluminum foil strips around the edges of the pie prior to baking. Remove the foil the last 15 minutes of baking.

Tip: For a golden brown hue, brush the top crust with milk or beaten egg white before placing it in the oven. To avoid burning, be careful not to brush the crimped edge of the crust.

Have more questions? Call one of these hotlines for all your Thanksgiving needs.