What is Rotisserie Chicken?
Rotisserie chicken is made by cooking a whole chicken on a spit, often in combination with other seasonings and ingredients.
The technique of rotisserie cooking makes the chicken come out moist and succulent.
Different restaurants have their own recipes and variations, but generally speaking, the resulting chicken has a unique flavor distinct from that of other cooking methods.
Generally speaking, properly prepared and stored rotisserie chicken will last up to four days in the refrigerator after you have purchased it or cooked it at home.
This includes store-bought rotisserie, catered rotisserie or homemade rotisserie.
To keep food safe during storage, remember to store raw poultry on the lowest shelf at the back of your fridge to reduce any risk of cross-contamination of other foods.
When you’re ready to enjoy your meal, reheat it thoroughly until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before eating.
How to Store Rotisserie Chicken?
Rotisserie chicken is a convenient and tasty meal option, but if you don’t store it correctly it won’t stay fresh.
In order to ensure that your rotisserie chicken stays fresh, you’ll need to take measures to keep it cool and dry.
Let’s discuss the best ways to store rotisserie chicken and how long it can last in the fridge.
Refrigeration
Cold temperatures can help slow bacterial growth and prevent the chicken from spoiling.
When cooked rotisserie chicken is refrigerated, it should be stored at or below 40°F (4.
4°C).
To preserve food safety, chicken should be cooled within two hours (1 hour when the temperature is above 90 °F) after preparation and stored within two hours of cooking.
Refrigerate pre-packaged rotisserie chicken in its original packaging or wrap it tightly with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or place it in an airtight container if repackaging.
Refrigerator storage should not exceed 3 to 4 days for optimal food safety and quality of flavor and texture.
When freezing rotisserie chicken, wrap tightly with foil or place in a freezer-safe bag or container followed by roasting tray to prevent juice from leaking onto other frozen items.
Frozen rotisserie chicken will last 2-3 months when properly stored.
It is recommended that any leftovers are used within four days of first use.
Freezing
Rotisserie chicken can be frozen, but due to its already cooked nature, freezing is not recommended until after the chicken has been opened, served and generally cooled down.
To store rotisserie chicken for future use, it should be kept in two pieces.
De-boned version divide the breasts from the stock pieces and store them separately by quart sized zipper bags.
When freezing poultry always use the “freeze-by” date inscribed on the bag as a guide, in order to ensure a safe thawing process.
Rotisserie chicken should never be refrozen after thawing so discard any leftover meat that may not have been consumed within 3-4 days of initial thawing.
Additionally, as a food safety measure, it is best to reheat rotisserie chicken until its internal temperature reaches 165°F before eating it.
How Long Does Rotisserie Chicken Last In The Fridge?
Rotisserie chicken is a great meal choice for busy weeknights, but how long does it last once it’s been taken out of the store or restaurant? The answer depends on how long you store the chicken in your refrigerator and how you store it.
This article will provide details on the shelf life of rotisserie chicken, how to properly store it, and how to tell if the chicken has gone bad.
Uncooked
If you plan to cook and eat rotisserie chicken within 4 days, it’s safe to keep the whole, uncooked chicken in its original packaging in the refrigerator for that amount of time.
After 4 days, it is best to refrigerate prepared dishes made with the rotisserie chicken instead of storing them as leftovers.
When handled properly, raw rotisserie chicken is safe to cook and eat within 4 days; however, if it has been sitting out at room temperature for more than 2 hours or 1 hour if the temperature is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it should be discarded.
It is important to always check that your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F before consuming.
If you don’t plan to cook the whole bird right away but still need to store your uncooked rotisserie chicken until later use, you can freeze it in its original packaging or an airtight container.
When stored this way in the freezer, uncooked and unopened rotisserie can last 2-3 months.
Cooked
Cooked Rotisserie chicken will generally stay safe to eat for 3-4 days in the fridge; it should be stored in a sealed container or wrapped tightly to keep air out and prevent bacterial growth.
If you plan on keeping cooked rotisserie chicken longer than that, it’s best to freeze the meat, as freezing will dramatically reduce the rate of spoilage.
When properly stored, cooked rotisserie chicken can remain safe and tasty in the freezer for up to four months.
How to Tell If Rotisserie Chicken Has Gone Bad?
Rotisserie chicken is a convenient and delicious meal that can be stored in the fridge, but it won’t last forever.
Knowing how long a rotisserie chicken will last and how to tell if it has gone bad is important for food safety.
In this article, we’ll look at how long a rotisserie chicken will last in the fridge and what signs to look for to determine if it has gone bad.
Smell
Smelling the rotisserie chicken will give you the most reliable idea if it has gone bad.
Rotisserie chicken that has gone bad will produce a sour or ammonia-like smell.
If you detect any of these unpleasant scents, discard the cooked chicken right away.
When in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution as spoiled cooked chicken can cause food poisoning if consumed.
Visually, cooked rotisserie chicken should have an off-putting sheen to its skin, which can mean that mold is beginning to grow on its surface.
Additionally, look out for excess moisture which indicates the presence of bacteria; this could mean that the rotisserie chicken has gone off or is about to go off at any moment.
If there is condensation in your refrigerator and the rotisserie chicken appears moist for no apparent reason, then this could also be a sign that it’s time to dispose of your leftovers.
Color
When checking to see if your rotisserie chicken is still safe to eat, it is important to first look at the color of the chicken.
The cooked chicken should be a light golden brown color.
If the cooked chicken appears grayish, yellowish, or greenish that may be an indication that it has already gone bad and should not be eaten.
Additionally, avoid any pieces of chicken with mold on them.
If you are unsure about the color of the cooked chickens appearance, take a deep sniff of the meat.
Spoiled Rotisserie Chicken will often have an off or sour odor and it should not have any visible mold developing on it.
Overall, since rotisserie chickens are precooked, they should not ever be left out in room temperature for more than two hours.
To extend the shelf life of your Rotisserie Chicken make sure to store in an airtight container or wrap securely with aluminum foil before placing in your refrigerator as soon as possible after purchase.
When stored properly can last up to four days in your fridge depending on when purchased from market and best consumed within 1-2 days for optimal taste and texture quality results.
Texture
In order to tell if a rotisserie chicken has gone bad, home chefs should take note of the texture.
A rotisserie chicken is typically cooked until lightly browned and the skin is crisp.
If your rotisserie chicken looks pale or rubbery, it may have been overcooked or left out for too long.
Also, note that cooked chicken can still be safe to eat with slightly off textures since the food won’t necessarily “go bad” in the same way other leftovers would).
Additionally, when you touch the cooked chicken it should be slightly firm when pressed with a fork or finger and not overly spongy or squishy.
If it feels soft and greasy, then chances are that it has spoiled – discard immediately.
Cooked chicken should also not have any oxygen pockets remaining (these will be present as air bubbles on the surface of the meat).
Oxygen pockets indicate degradation of proteins in meat that can indicate spoiling—the presence of said oxygen pockets is a sign that your chicken has gone bad.
Tips For Storing Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie chicken is a tasty, convenient meal solution that can be enjoyed as-is or as part of a larger dish.
However, it needs to be stored properly if you want to ensure the quality and safety of the food.
In this article, we’ll discuss proper storage techniques for rotisserie chickens and how long they can last in the fridge.
Reheat Properly
It is important to reheat rotisserie chicken properly to reduce the chances of foodborne illness.
To do so, use an oven or microwave and heat the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature or cut into the thickest part of the meat to check for doneness.
For optimal safety, it is best to discard any cooked rotisserie chicken that has been kept in the refrigerator longer than four days.
This is a general guideline and depends on how quickly you plan on using up all of your leftovers.
Always be sure to use proper guidelines for food storage outlined by your local health department as well as any other guidelines from accredited sources.
Use Airtight Containers
Whether you have purchased your rotisserie chicken from a store or had it freshly cooked, using airtight containers can extend the shelf-life.
It is important to use airtight storage containers with secure lids so that the food remains safe and uncontaminated.
The best way to store rotisserie chickens is to divide them into smaller portions, putting them into separate containers.
This allows you to take out what you need when ready, ensuring that the other portions aren’t contaminated by unnecessary exposure.
Furthermore, reducing the portion sizes prevents overconsumption and wastage of food.
Be sure to label all airtight containers with a date and contents so that you know how long it has been since purchase or cooking.
Once sealed in an airtight container, a cooked, whole rotisserie chicken should last for three to four days in the refrigerator before it needs repacking or freezing if not consumed before then.
Packed or repackaged portions should keep for up to three months in the freezer when stored correctly but should not be left at room temperature as this permits bacteria growth that would spoil and contaminate the food product.
Divide Into Smaller Portions
To make sure your rotisserie chicken lasts longer, it’s a good idea to divide the chicken into smaller portions before storing.
This means cutting off any excess fat and separating each part of the chicken such as wings, thighs and breasts into smaller pieces.
This will allow you to consume the parts of the chicken you want to eat right away, while keeping the rest of the bird safely in the refrigerator.
When properly stored in an airtight container or zipper-lock bag, cooked rotisserie chicken can last up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Carrie is a food writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience. She has worked for some of the biggest names in the food industry, including Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and Martha Stewart Living.
As the Editor in Chief of IntroChicago.com, Carrie oversees all of the content on the site. She also manages the team of contributing writers and editors, who help to create delicious recipes, helpful tips, and informative articles that you’ll find on the site.
A native of the Chicago area, Carrie is passionate about all things food. She loves trying new restaurants and experimenting with new recipes in her kitchen. She’s also a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, so she knows a thing or two about food!