This Illinois City Is Home To America’s Top Turkey Experts

When you're cooking a Thanksgiving Day dinner, what is your ultimate goal? I'm going to guess that it's providing your guests with a beautiful turkey with all the trimmings and side dishes--and not poisoning any of those guests while you accomplish that.

For years now (42 to be exact), people all across the United States have reached out to a certain Illinois city (that is not Chicago) for the very best in expert advice on how to serve a magnificent Thanksgiving turkey.

You may have called the experts in this city for advice, too. Any guesses?

Okay, you're obviously busy with your Thanksgiving preparations and don't feel like wasting your time on guesses about Illinois towns and their turkey expertise. I respect that, so here's the answer to the question about which Illinois town has all the turkey experts:

Why Naperville? It's Because Naperville, Illinois Is Home To The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, And Has Been Since 1981

And according to Mashed.com, the very first Thanksgiving that the Butterball Turkey Talk-line was in existence, the turkey experts working the phones took over 11,000 calls for help and advice. Call volume has gone up ever since.

We've advanced just a bit (technologically speaking) since 1981, so today, in addition to being able to call the Butterball Turkey Talk-line on your phone (1-800-BUTTERBALL), you can also email, online chat, or reach out via text.

The First Year Of The Talk-Line Had 6 Turkey Experts Fielding 10,000-Plus Calls For The Season, Now They Have More Than 50 Experts Who Take 10,000 Calls On Thanksgiving Day Alone

And, unlike many jobs today, the experts who work the Butterball Turkey Talk-line are not doing it remotely, but right there, side by side, at the offices in Naperville.

Mashed.com:

"We have rows of computers, and we all have our headsets. When the staff comes in for their shift, they each have a spot to sit. It's great because people will line up next to their friends or next to the people they know. Sometimes, they'll put a consumer on hold and ask someone else a question, just to get a little reassurance or some advice from a neighbor," explained Andrea Balitewicz.

Click here for some secrets about the Butterball Turkey Talk-line.