MITCHELL, S.D.(KMIT)- Thanksgiving is coming up on Thursday.  Sue Smith a Talk-Line Expert with the Butterball Hotline gives some tips starting with when you should purchase your turkey.

The folks at Butterball say that if you’re buying boneless turkey, you’ll need at least eight ounces per guest.  If it is a traditional bird, the rule of thumb is 1.5 pounds per person at the table.

You’ve got the turkey and before preparation comes the thawing.  Sue Smith says that improper thawing is the number one mistake, especially first time, home chefs make.

Smith says there really are no short cuts in thawing a turkey.  Time and patience are what the home cook needs.

How long your Thanksgiving turkey needs in the oven depends on several things, the size of the bird, whether the stuffing is cooked inside the turkey or separately and how moist or dry you like your meat.  Sue Smith describes the proper process for cooking your Thanksgiving turkey.

It smells great, peering in the oven the turkey looks golden brown, and it seems like it’s been in there forever, but is it done.  Sue Smith explains how you can tell.

Smith says, if you want your meal to be memorable – for all the right reasons – make sure you turkey is cooked to the proper temperature.

A large part of making sure your turkey was succulent and not dry used to be periodic basting.  Sue Smith says that’s not the case anymore.

Smith says that all of Butterball’s turkeys come pre-basted, so the home cook need do nothing.  Of course, you’re free to bathe the bird in butter according to taste.

Laurel had Hardy, Abbott had Costello, the Lone Ranger had Tonto and turkey has dressing.  Sue Smith gives advice on how to prepare your dressing for this year’s feast.

Smith says that hosts can take some of the pressure off of themselves by asking guests to contribute to the meal.

Thanksgiving is about the four Fs – Family, Friends, Food and Fun

Smith explains who you’ll be talking to when you call an expert to help with your turkey trouble on the Butterball Talk-Line.

Sue Smith lays out the hours of operation for the Butterball Hotline.

In the old days of landlines, everyone knew the cook was calling Butterball for help.  Now, with cell phones, no one need know that the cook had a little help preparing the perfect feast.

Any further questions, call 1-800-BUTTERBALL or text 844-877-3456 to chat with their turkey experts.