A free hotline is available for food safety questions through Iowa State University. A few tips for making food ahead of the holidays include: keep food safety in mind, partially cooking food and holding it is not advised, remember the 2 hour limit in the temperature danger zone of 40 to 140 degrees – keep hot things hot and cold things cold. Also, thaw meats in the refrigerator.

For answers to questions, call the ISU AnswerLine at 1-800-262-3804.