Turkey Trouble? Butterball’s Hotline Is Here to Save Your Thanksgiving

Got an issue with your Thanksgiving turkey this year? Rather than frantically Googling the answer, you might want to ask a turkey expert instead—just give the Butterball Talk-Line a call. This turkey hotline has been operating since 1981, and it’s back again to bring you the Turkey Day guidance you're searching for.

No matter whether you’re brining your turkey, trying to perfect your oven-roasted bird, or spatchcocking your Thanksgiving dinner, Butterball is here to help. The hotline is open November through December—and yes, of course, that includes Thanksgiving day. 

Who’s on the Other End of the Butterball Line?

When you call the Butterball Talk-Line, you’re not going to receive a Thanksgiving amateur. Every hotline staffer is a certified Thanksgiving expert. The person you’re talking to likely has many years of food education and work experience under their belt. You may chat with a chef, a nutritionist, or a professor. 

Additionally, Butterball’s staff complete Butterball University each year to best prepare them to help with all your turkey mishaps. This extensive training ensures that each staff member is ready to assist in any possible turkey-related situation, especially as Thanksgiving draws near. The hotline will receive the most calls during the week of Thanksgiving as hosts begin stressing about when they should thaw out their turkey.

When to Phone It In

So, what are some reasons you might want to call up Butterball? Even if you consider yourself a Thanksgiving pro, unexpected mishaps can still happen. If you’ve got an issue you’ve never encountered before, it’s time to call Butterball.

Maybe you miscalculated your turkey’s thawing time and want to know what to do if it’s still frozen. Perhaps you’re wondering about the recommended seasonings to use for your turkey’s brine, or what to do if you can’t find the gravy packet that’s supposedly hiding somewhere inside the bird. 

The Butterball Talk-Line can help you plan out your turkey-cooking schedule, tell you what to do if the temperature button falls off, and can even help you properly stuff your turkey. If you have a Thanksgiving cooking argument you want to resolve, well, Butterball is used to that. 

Another point of interest may be Thanksgiving food safety. You might want to know how to prepare your turkey before cooking—Butterball can give you pointers if you’re struggling to remove the giblets. If you called the Butterball Talk-Line, they’d definitely advise you to never wash your turkey—it can spread bacteria all over your kitchen—and they’d be able to give you tips on how to check your turkey with a meat thermometer, too. 

Desperate callers suffering from last-minute turkey accidents also frequent the Butterball line. What if you drop your Thanksgiving turkey on the floor? What if you’re not sure your meat thermometer is working properly? No matter how specific the issue, the hotline can help. 

Send Out an SOS SMS

If you’d rather shoot Butterball a quick text instead of call the phone line, you can do that, too. Text 844-877-3456 to speak to a turkey expert via text message, or head to Butterball’s website to use live chat instead. .