*By Tracey Cheek* The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line has been answering the questions of stressed-out Thanksgiving hosts for decades, but this year it is turning to Amazon Alexa to modernize how it helps with turkey prep. The Turkey Talk-Line typically receives around 10,000 calls each Thanksgiving. Last year, it got almost 3,000 texts as well. For 2018, Butterball partnered with Amazon so people could easily get in touch with turkey experts simply by asking their Alexa-enabed device questions like: "Alexa, ask Butterball how long I should cook my turkey?" "It's a voice-over by actual Turkey Talk-Line experts, so you get that human connection," Kyle Lock, Senior Director of Retail and Marketing at Butterball, told Cheddar. "This isn't just Amazon answering your questions, it's Butterball using your Amazon device." How-to videos created by Turkey Talk-Line experts are also available through Amazon Alexa products. Some of the most common questions that the turkey experts receive range from "What do I buy?" to "How do I thaw a turkey?" But this year, one question took the internet by storm. Millennials and college students have been participating in the viral #TurkeyChallenge by texting their parents, "How long would it take to microwave a 25-pound turkey?" Responses typically range from disgust to confusion, but Butterball gave Cheddar some advice for anyone actually considering the unconventional technique. "Don't panic," Lock said. "If the only way you have to cook a turkey is your microwave, it can be done, and the folks at 1-800-Butterball can help you get there." For full interview click [here](https://cheddar.com/videos/butterball-turns-to-tech-to-help-you-cook-a-turkey).

Share:
More In Business
Al Sharpton to lead pro-DEI march through Wall Street
The Rev. Al Sharpton is set to lead a protest march on Wall Street to urge corporate America to resist the Trump administration’s campaign to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The New York civil rights leader will join clergy, labor and community leaders Thursday in a demonstration through Manhattan’s Financial District that’s timed with the anniversary of the Civil Rights-era March on Washington in 1963. Sharpton called DEI the “civil rights fight of our generation." He and other Black leaders have called for boycotting American retailers that scaled backed policies and programs aimed at bolstering diversity and reducing discrimination in their ranks.
A US tariff exemption for small orders ends Friday. It’s a big deal.
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.
Southwest Airlines’ new policy will affect plus-size travelers. Here’s how
Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
Load More