Jan Allen, Butterball® Turkey Talk-Line expert, is celebrating her 42nd year of talking with folks during the holiday season. She is a former high school home economics foods teacher, which helped prepare her for her role at Butterball®. She loves working with people who are interested in preparing delicious, nutritious food.

After leaving the teaching profession, she was a National Home Economist for Montgomery Ward in the major appliance division. She has also worked in the consumer affairs department of ConAgra Foods which previously included Butterball®. She also spent a number of years promoting microwave oven sales through demonstrations and classes.

The Press asked Allen some questions about the Turkey Talk-Line.

Q. How many calls do you expect to the Turkey Talk-Line on Thanksgiving Day?

A. Butterball® Turkey Talk-Line experts have assisted millions of holiday hosts since the Turkey Talk-Line launched in 1981. The Talk-Line is active from Nov. 1 and will be answering calls through Dec. 24, including Thanksgiving Day.

Q. What should you do if you forget to thaw the turkey?

A. Thawing a turkey requires one day of thawing for every four pounds of turkey (not counting Thanksgiving Day) to ensure it’s ready to put in the oven on Thanksgiving. If you forget until the day of, I recommend using the cold-water bath method for thawing if you’re in a pinch, which is a faster method and requires 30 minutes per pound.

Another option is to check out our Butterball® Cook from Frozen Turkey. Our Cook from Frozen Turkey can go straight from the freezer to the oven, no thawing required; it removes the need for calculating days of refrigerator thawing. There’s also no neck or giblets to remove, which we know can be stressful for first-time cooks. The turkey is also pre-brined and pre-seasoned, making cooking your Thanksgiving turkey easier than ever!

Q. How do you calculate how big a turkey is needed for the number of people being served?

A. The size of turkey you should buy depends on how many people are joining your Thanksgiving celebration. A good rule of thumb is to figure one to one and a half pounds per person. You can also use the turkey calculator on Butterball.com to plan out perfect portions every time. If there is a specific size you’re looking for, I suggest shopping ahead. This is a great week to head to the store.

Q. Do you cook the turkey covered or uncovered?

A. We recommend cooks brush or spray the skin lightly with avocado or vegetable oil to give the turkey that nice golden-brown color.

Q. How do you know if the turkey is done?

A. The best way to test doneness is to use a meat thermometer to make sure you are cooking your turkey to the desired temperature. Look for 165 degrees in the stuffing, 170 degrees in the breast and 180 degrees in the thigh.

Q. Is Thanksgiving the biggest holiday for Butterball®?

A. While Thanksgiving is the biggest holiday for Butterball®, turkey is enjoyed throughout the November and December holiday season and beyond!

Q. What are the hours for the Butterball® Turkey Talk-Line for the Thanksgiving holiday?

A. On Thanksgiving Day, the Turkey Talk-Line will be ready to assist Thanksgiving hosts between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT. The Talk-Line is available via text, chat, social channels and of course, the iconic 1-800-BUTTERBALL Nov. 1 to Dec. 24.

Q. What are the hours for the Talk-Line other than Thanksgiving Day?

A. Talk-Line hours vary throughout the season. In November, the Talk-Line is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT weekdays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT the week leading up to Thanksgiving and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT on the weekend before Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving, the Turkey Talk-Line is available between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT.

In December, the Turkey Talk-Line is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT weekdays, available 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT the weekend before Christmas and is able to assist hosts 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT Christmas Eve.

Q. What is the most common question asked of the Turkey Talk-Line representatives?

A. Our most common question is when and how to thaw your turkey.

Q. What are some other commonly asked questions?

A. Other common questions include how to roast a turkey, checking for doneness and what to do with leftovers.

Q. What has been the funniest question asked?

A. Every season, we always get a laugh! My favorite is when a mother called from Kentucky saying she had carefully followed Butterball®’s instructions for roasting a turkey. It looked beautiful and golden-brown outside, but when she went in to carve it, she noticed something small and bright red inside. After a closer look, she realized that before the turkey went into the oven, while her back was turned, her son had helped her season the turkey with his Legos. So she had to ask, “Is this thing safe to eat?”

Q. Have callers ever shared a unique way to cook a turkey?

A. Of course they do! A man called to tell the operator he cut his turkey in half with a chain saw and wanted to know if the oil from the chain would adversely affect the turkey. We advised him to purchase a new turkey.

Q. Have callers ever called with questions other than those having to do with cooking a turkey?

A. We are happy to help with everything – whether that be emotional support, helping cooks feel confident in the kitchen or just being a friendly voice amid the stress that oftentimes comes with hosting during the holiday season. A story that sicks out to me is when a gentleman called in and said he was counting on the Talk-Line to help him make sure the turkey came out perfect. We told him not to worry and that everything would come out great. He then told us how he was down on his luck and was homeless until recently. He was cooking for other homeless people and we were happy to help him make it a memorable holiday.

Q. Do you ever receive follow up calls on how the turkey turned out?

A. We often hear back from people we have assisted! One gentleman called into the Talk-Line and asked an expert how he could prepare his turkey the way his wife did. His wife had been preparing their Butterball® turkey for the last 25 years. His kids were all coming into town and he wanted to make sure the turkey would be just like his wife had made, and she had always called the Butterball® Turkey Talk-Line. So, our expert walked him through it step-by-step, explaining everything he needed to do to make that turkey perfect. The best part of the story is that hours later, he called back to let us know how delicious the turkey turned out, and it was a wonderful Thanksgiving with his kids. It’s one of the reasons why we love doing what we do.

Q. Do you have a Turkey Talk-Line representative who has been there the longest? How long?

A. Many of our experts have been with the Turkey Talk-Line for over 20 years. I have been at the Talk-Line the longest – 42 years!

Q. Where are you based?

A. The Butterball® Turkey Talk-Line is based in Naperville, Ill., in the suburbs of Chicago.

Allen suggests to make a list of everything you will need including tools such as a reliable meat thermometer and a roast rack. “Shop early so you can purchase the size of turkey you prefer.”

When Allen was asked her favorite thing about talking turkey, she said “I cannot imagine not working for Butterball® as it has actually become a tradition for me. I love helping our customers via phone calls, emails and texts to have a Thanksgiving dinner they are proud to share with family and friends.”