With the holiday season rapidly approaching, Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas a mere 27 days away, countless households have already begun their meal planning and grocery shopping. In this bustling time, the staff of Iowa State University's Extension AnswerLine is here to offer free assistance with ideas and safe food preparation for time-honored traditions like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day meals.

Your One-Stop Shop for Holiday Meal Planning and Food Safety

Holiday Meal Preparation Expertise

Since 1975, the dedicated AnswerLine team has answered an astonishingly high number of questions related to Thanksgiving and Christmas Day meal preparation. They possess in-depth knowledge in home economics, dietetics, and food science. As Beth Marrs, an AnswerLine veteran from ISU, explained in a recent interview with the Times-Republican, each team member has a vast reservoir of expertise in the areas they handle. And if they don't know an answer, they can refer the question to other Iowa State Extension and Outreach Specialists with relevant expertise.This year, a team of five professionals based at Lagomarcino Hall in Ames is fully prepared to assist. They are committed to providing valuable guidance and solutions to make your holiday meals a success.

Food Safety and Preservation

Marrs emphasized that a significant portion, about two-thirds, of the calls received by AnswerLine are related to food safety and preservation. In previous years, they have received numerous inquiries about meal planning to ensure that food is ready when guests arrive. They also offer tips on how to best utilize oven space when preparing meals and how to store foods in case guests have to cancel due to illness or bad weather. Additionally, they have received questions about making recipes gluten-free without compromising on taste.The AnswerLine team is available year-round to address various food-related queries. During the summer months, they are busy helping 4-H members prepare their food and nutrition exhibits for fairs and also assist others with canning-related questions.

Comprehensive Service and Availability

All one needs to do is reach out by telephone at 800-262-3804 or send an email to answer@iastate.edu. Telephone lines are open from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. However, on November 25-27, calls will be answered during the noon hour to address last-minute Thanksgiving Day meal questions. Their email box is always open, and they strive to respond to questions within one to two business days.Chelsea Llewellyn, the program coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach Marshall County in Marshalltown, highlighted that the local office refers many callers throughout the year to AnswerLine. They receive questions about Thanksgiving and Christmas Day meal preparation, food safety, and storage and refer them to the reliable AnswerLine service. It truly is a tremendous resource.For more information, visit www.extension.iastate.edu. Let Iowa State University's Extension AnswerLine be your trusted partner in making this holiday season a delicious and safe one.