Whether you are headed to someone else's home for the holidays, or have gone completely insane and have decided to host the festivities at your place, chances are you'll be dealing with food in one way or another. And you'll have questions. Last minute questions. Like whether yams and sweet potatoes are the same thing (they aren't), or how long to roast a turkey (depends on how much it weighs, and whether it's stuffed or not. See chart).

Don't panic. There are several numbers you can call, and a real live human expert will talk you down. Keep these numbers nearby for the next couple of weeks.

Meat and Poultry Questions:
• Reynolds Turkey Tips Line: 800.745.4000 (Year-round and 24 hour advice on turkey defrosting, preparation and cooking options. Free recipes.)

• Butterball Turkey Talk-line: 800.323.4848 (Home economists and nutritionists available 6am-6pm M-W; 4am-4pm Thanksgiving Day; 6am-5pm weekdays Friday through Dec. 22nd. Automated assistance after hours.)

• Dial-A-Chef Holiday Hotline: 888.723.4468 (Provided by Shady Brook Farms. 24/7 automated guidance and recipes by famous chefs and winemakers. Through Jan. 1st.)

• Perdue Chicken: 800.473.7383 (For you non-traditionalists. Available weekdays year-round, except the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

For Side Dish Questions:
• Ocean Spray Consumer Help Line: 800.662.3263 (Everything you ever wanted to know about cranberries.)

• Green Giant Expert Line: 800.400.0127 (The Giant himself is vacationing in the islands for the holidays, but the little elf guy might be available.)

For Dessert Help:
• Betty Crocker: 888.ASK.BETTY (Year-round 7:30am-5:30pm weekdays.)

• Hershey's Consumer Hot Line: 800.468.1714 (Recipes and answers to all your chocolate related questions. M-F 9am-4pm.)

• Nestle Toll House Baking Information Line: 800.637.8537 (Baking help, plus recipes. 10am-6pm, all year.)

• Crisco Pie Hotline: 877.367.7438 (Who doesn't like pie? 8am-8pm until Dec. 31st.)

For All Those Leftovers:
• Campbell's Hotline: 888.4.LEFTOVER (24 hours a day, right after Thanksgiving through Dec. 31st.)

And You'll Need This:
• USDA Hotline: 800.535.4555 / International Food Safety Council: 800.COOK.SMART (Because food poisoning has a way of putting a cramp in your holiday. Pun intended.)