Short Takes: The Turkey Talk-Line

There’s a reason my family orders our Thanksgiving turkey pre-cooked every year: absolutely no drama. No frantic rush when something isn’t done on time, no debates on the best way to accomplish culinary tasks—just peace, gratitude, and my parents quietly doing 93% of the work.

But for the brave souls who do take on the task, there’s Butterball. And Butterball, brilliantly, doesn’t just sell you a turkey: they give you all the tools to succeed from “how big of a bird should I get?” to “Why is it doing that!?”

Every year from Nov. 1 through Christmas Eve, 50 trained Turkey Talk-Line experts help more than 100,000 anxious cooks get dinner across the finish line. Phone, text, email, live chat – whatever has you panicking, they’ve got a channel for helping.

What started almost 40 years ago as a marketing stunt has become a Thanksgiving institution, saving countless meals and family dynamics. Their website is loaded with step-by-step instructions for any skill level, and if disaster strikes mid-roast, you can call in and talk to a real human who will talk you off your culinary ledge.

It’s great customer service, and a mega-smart communications tactic. By meeting people exactly where their stress is, Butterball ensures you don’t leave the holiday with a bad taste in your mouth. Literally.