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Create the perfect Thanksgiving turkey with help from the Butterball Turkey talk line.

Want to know how long you should defrost your turkey or how long the bird should be in the oven.

Today, the talk lines are manned by more than 50 home economists and dietitians who help more than 100,000 turkey troubled callers.

Here is some advice for those trying to create the perfect Thanksgiving:

Post It

Don't do all the cooking yourself. Potluck dinners are all the rage. E-mail a side dish signup sheet to guests and ask them to bring different dishes or desserts for the meal. Post the list on your personal website, blog or social networking page so guests can see who's bringing what. Then you won't have a number of dishes that overlap.

Thawing 102

Thawing continues to be the No. 1 question received at the talk line. Butterball recommends refrigerator thawing. One day for every four pounds of turkey. If short on time try the quicker water-thaw method. Submerge the turkey in its unopened wrapper in cold water. Change the water frequently to help speed the thawing process. Allow 30 minutes per pound.

Thermometer technology

Purchase a digital meat thermometer, a must-have for turkey cooking in the digital age. The temperature gauge stays in the turkey while the digital readout sits outside the oven. It can even be programmed to alert you when the turkey has reached the correct temperature.

Butterball recommends 180 F in the thigh and 165 F in the stuffing.

Other frequently asked questions:

Q. How much turkey should you buy?

A. Allow 1 1/2 pounds per person for generous servings plus leftovers.

Q. How do you safely store leftovers?

A. Refrigerate turkey and stuffing in separate containers within two hours of cooking.

~ Courtesy of News Canada