43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off^® Contest FAQ

My recipe could be entered in two different Categories. How do I know which one to choose?

Enter your recipe in the Category you think it fits best. The contest officials can re-assign recipes if they fit the requirements of a different Category better.

I like to offer toppings for my recipe, like sour cream or Parmesan cheese. Do I have to indicate how much of those toppings to use, since each person will add toppings as they like?

You should indicate suggested amounts in your recipe. This will allow the test kitchen staff to evaluate the recipe as you intended.

If I use cooking oil to fry ingredients in my recipe or serve it with accompaniments like rice, will the kitchen testers determine those amounts?

If an ingredient or accompaniment is essential for the finished dish, the recipe entry needs to provide the amounts of the ingredient needed or the recipe will not be considered.

Is there a limit on the amount of preparation time or number of ingredients for any categories?

There are no specific preparation time or total number of ingredient limits for the categories this contest. However, recipes in the contest should generally have quick and easy preparation and should meet the overall contest eligible product and category guidelines. At the Contest Finals, all contestants will be asked to prepare their recipes at least twice within the five hours of the competition.

Please note that of the five categories, there are two categories that require use of a specific eligible product (Pillsbury refrigerated pizza crust in the Pizza Creations category and an Old El Paso product in the Old El Paso Mexican Favorites category). Be sure to read the official rules online at bakeoff.yahoo.com for details on the contest categories and eligible product requirements.

Can I enter a recipe that uses a preparation method like marinating overnight or cooking for 8 to 10 hours in a slow cooker?

No, recipes like this cannot be prepared within the five hours of the Contest Finals. You should retest your recipe using a method that can be done twice within the time limitations.

An ingredient I like to cook with was an eligible product for the last contest, but it is not listed this contest. Is that an error?

Eligible products are selected for each Pillsbury Bake-Off^® Contest, based on consumer trends and marketing plans, so some products are not included and new ones are added. We hope you'll be able to find two other eligible products on the list to use in creating a recipe to enter.

I can't find an eligible product in my local grocery store? Can you help me locate the product in my area? Can I purchase it directly from you?

We regret that we are unable to sell products directly to consumers. We suggest that you ask your grocery store manager if the store can order the product, or select another eligible product available in your area.

How do I know what different varieties or flavors are available of an eligible product?

Most eligible products are readily available in grocery stores, and many will have an assortment of varieties or flavors. We suggest that you check your favorite grocery stores and select from the choices you find available in your area. On the online entry form, a drop-down list of sizes and flavors of eligible products is available.

If an eligible product includes two or more parts, such as refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing, do I need to use all of the components of the product in my recipe?

Yes, your recipe must include all the parts of an eligible product. Refer to the eligible product list for amounts.

Can I have further clarification on eligibility for food professionals?

Our interpretation of the food professional rule generally means that if someone is paid for work related to their original recipes, then they would not be eligible. For example, a person who decorates wedding cakes baked with a standard recipe or sells cookies using a classic recipe would still be eligible. A caterer who makes his or her business around creative food ideas (recipes not generally available to the public) would not be eligible.

I worked on a recipe with another person. Can we enter the contest as a team?

Because our contest rules are based on one individual person entering and participating, partners cannot enter recipes together.

How can I get more information about using Jif^® peanut butter?

For more information, visit www.jif.com.

Is there a limit to the number of recipes I can submit?

There is no limit to the number of recipes you can submit to the Contest. However, each recipe should be submitted only once; submitting a recipe more than once will not increase the likelihood that the recipe will be selected as a finalist.

How do I know that my online entry was accepted?

If your on-line entry is successfully submitted, you will see the following on the Web site Thank You page: Thank you. Your recipe has been entered in the 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off^® Contest. If you do not see this message, your entry was not submitted.

After I submitted my recipe entry, I realized that I made a mistake in the recipe. What should I do?

Submit a new entry with the correct version of your recipe, including a statement on your new recipe explaining that it is a corrected version of a recipe submitted earlier.

Can I send a picture and/or diagram of what the recipe should look like?

No, there is no way to attach a photo or diagram with your recipe.

Can I enter my recipe in Spanish?

Yes, recipe entries can be submitted in Spanish. Spanish-speaking home economists will review all recipes submitted in Spanish and will translate recipes, if needed, for kitchen testing and other steps of the Bake-Off^® Contest judging process.

How do I print a copy of my recipe submission?

If you would like to print a copy of the recipe you submitted, follow the instructions for printing at the end of the online entry form.

When I click on 'Submit My Recipe,' I return to the name/address page and do not receive a confirmation message.

This means that you have exceeded the maximum connection time allowed and have been disconnected from the Web site. Unfortunately, your entry has not been received. Please resubmit your recipe. Be sure to complete your entry within two hours so that your connection is not broken. (Note that some Internet providers may disconnect you if your computer is idle for a period of time.)

After I enter my name and address information, I continue to return to the same page.

In this situation, there may be technical difficulties between your system capabilities and this Web site. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Please resubmit your recipe.

How can I find out how my recipe was rated among the entries?

We regret that the volume of entries we receive does not allow us to provide feedback on our evaluation of individual recipes.