Late Help for Thanksgiving

Trained cooking aides, hotline recordings, and online information are available, in some cases around the clock, to answer queries and help resolve problems that arise during holiday meal preparations. For detailed instructions or help, check out these toll-free help lines and Web sites:

Butterball Turkey Talk Line, 1-800-288-8372. Experts answer questions from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Live service continues from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays, Friday through Dec. 23; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec 24-26. Or visit www.butterball.com for recipes and tips.

Jennie-O Holiday Helpline, 1-800-887-5397. Limited staff answers questions on turkey preparation, 24/7, through Jan. 1. Or www.jennie-o.com.

Perdue Consumer Information Line, 1-800-473-7383. Call from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, year-round, for help preparing poultry; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 25; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Or visit www.perdue.com.

USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline, 1-800-535-4555. Food specialists address questions of preparation and safety 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays (8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day). Recorded information 24/7. Or visit www.foodsafety.gov.

ShopRite Chefs on Call, 1-800-746-7748. Chefs will be available to answer questions and share preparation tips. 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sun-Mon; Noon-6 p.m. Tue-Wed; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

Spice Hunter turkey brining help line, 1-888-334-8977. 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. weekdays; until midnight Thanksgiving week, Mon-Thu. Additional tips available at www.spicehunter.com.

National Turkey Federation on how to buy, cook, and carve.

Video guide and recipes, brining instructions, turkey to meatless meals.

Holiday baking tips and frequently asked questions.

Step-by-step instructions for turkey preparation, with recipes for an entire holiday meal.

Provides an online Thanksgiving survival guide.