Recipes with Costco Rotisserie Chicken PLUS a free freezer meal planner (2024)

FAQs

How long is Costco rotisserie chicken good for in the freezer? ›

How long does rotisserie chicken keep in the freezer? According to the USDA, rotisserie chicken keeps for up to four months when stored in an airtight container in the freezer. The longer rotisserie chicken stays in the freezer, the more likely it will lose its flavoring and texture.

Make a Rub

Just because the chicken is already cooked doesn't mean it can't benefit from a rub. Before reheating, make a custom blend of your favorite spices like paprika, cayenne, onion or garlic powder. Mix in dried herbs or a bit of sugar for beautiful caramelization, then sprinkle it evenly over the skin.

Celebrity chef David Chang, founder of the Momof*cku restaurant company, hosts a podcast. He talked about a trip to Costco, and noted how he dislikes the chain's rotisserie chicken. He said the popular chicken lacks seasoning, making it "inedible" when eaten cold.

The USDA guidelines clearly state that rotisserie chicken is good for 3-4 days when stored in the refrigerator. Additionally, rotisserie chicken can be stored in the freezer where it will be good for a longer period of time. If frozen it will keep best, maintaining its optimal flavor and texture, for 4 months.

A rotisserie chicken is better than some of the other alternatives. Even with additives, a rotisserie chicken is a far healthier choice than a fast food run, says Allers. “It's still lower in fat and calories than fast food. It's serving its purpose – it's fast, but it can still help you create a balanced meal.

Costco's rotisserie chicken is arguably the most controversial piece of poultry in America. In the span of just one year, customers have claimed that the rotisserie chicken tastes like chemicals and causes gastrointestinal issues.

Indeed, Costco's rotisserie chickens include phosphate among a laundry list of other ingredients with very long names. And while ideally consumers shouldn't be able to taste phosphate, Thippareddi said, some are more sensitive to the chemical than others.

The brand-exclusive Kirkland Signature products. And, of course, the iconic $5 rotisserie chicken. Costco sold a whopping 137 million rotisserie chickens in 2023, up 20 million from 2022, executives revealed at their January 2024 annual shareholder meeting.

If you pick up a rotisserie chicken, you might wonder how long you have to use it before it goes bad. Well, if you pop it in the fridge within two hours of purchase, the cooked chicken will be fine for up to three or four days, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

As long as chicken breasts are frozen at or below 0°F, they'll stay safe indefinitely. They won't taste (or look) great indefinitely, though. The USDA recommends freezing chicken breasts no longer than nine months for optimal quality and flavor.

How long can cooked chicken stay in the freezer? ›

If you're freezing cooked chicken, you can expect that to last for 2–6 months. Freezing cooked chicken is a great way to reduce food waste. When freezing cooked chicken, it's a good idea to mark the bag with the date it was cooked and frozen so you remember to use it while it's still good.