MICROWAVING

 "Follow the instructions that came with your microwave," Williamson says. "If you lost the book, most companies maintain a toll-free telephone number you can call to get a new one."

 That's not much help if it's Thanksgiving morning and you're desperate to get the turkey thawed. But it's another reason to plan ahead and locate the instructions now in case you find yourself in this predicament.

 "Microwaving works better when thawing parts," says Williamson. "The shape of the turkey varies so much that microwaving it whole is a problem because some parts will cook while others are still frozen. It really is a last resort."

 Because of this, the USDA says that turkey defrosted in the microwave oven should be cooked immediately.

 THE REFRIGERATOR METHOD

 THE SINK METHOD

 SAFE HANDLING

Nov. 12: Safely thawing the holiday turkey.

Nov. 16: Pursuit of the perfect pie crust. Also, other Thanksgiving desserts.

Nov. 19: The big stuff: Recipes for favorite turkey stuffings.

Nov. 23: Four ways to cook the big bird, and super side dishes.

Nov. 28: The ultimate turkey sandwich.