What if you hit hour seven and the stuffing is still at 155°F? Don’t panic. Crank the oven to 350°F, but watch the breast like a hawk. That extra 25 degrees will push the stuffing over the line faster.
Or, do what my friend did last year: braise the whole thing. Pour a cup of chicken broth into the pan, cover the bird loosely with foil, and let it steam-roast for the last 30 minutes. It keeps the breast moist and speeds up the whole process.
The key takeaway? Your oven, your turkey, and your level of patience will all vary. The number on the clock is a suggestion; the number on your thermometer is the truth. Be flexible, laugh at the chaos, and remember that everyone at the table just wants to be with you—even if the turkey is fashionably late.