Ah, chicken. I really like chicken. And many people around the world would agree with me since chicken is the most widely consumed type of meat. Whether it is fried chicken, chicken broth, chicken salad, or any other chicken recipe, you can’t go wrong with chicken really.
It is delicious and good for you since it is full of healthy proteins and some other important nutrients. This also applies to cooked rotisserie chicken.
It is a chicken dish that was cooked using direct heat with the chicken placed right next to the heat source. This type of chicken dish is getting more and more popular every day in the US.
Since the number of people that are buying rotisserie chicken is growing, people are starting to ask a lot of questions related to it, including “How long can rotisserie chicken sit out?”, “How many days is rotisserie chicken good for?”, and “How long does rotisserie chicken last in the fridge?”.
The last question is a topic for today’s article, but you will also get the answers to some other questions related to rotisserie chicken and its storage.
How Long Does Rotisserie Chicken Last In The Fridge?
This type of chicken can last in the fridge for up to 3-4 days if stored properly. To achieve this, make sure to cool it down to room temperature first, and then pack it by using an airtight container or heavy-duty aluminum foil which you will store deep in the fridge, far from the door.
This way, your rotisserie chicken will maintain its freshness, as well as texture and flavor.
How Long Can Rotisserie Chicken Last In The Fridge?
So, how long can you keep rotisserie chicken in the fridge? The short answer is 3-4 days. But, in order for your rotisserie chicken to stay fresh for that time frame, you also have to know some other facts related to its storage.
First, you have to know how long can you keep rotisserie chicken out of the fridge after you buy it or after you make your own homemade rotisserie chicken. You also have to know what is the proper way to refrigerate the meat in order to avoid some unnecessary problems.
And, finally, if you are not sure that your meat is still good, I will explain the main signs of spoilage so that you don’t get some kind of foodborne illness.
All this information is very important for the whole process of refrigeration and cooked chicken storage in general, so it is best for you to continue reading in order to know what to do when you find yourself in a similar situation.
How Long Are Rotisserie Chickens Good For At Room Temperature?
After you cook (or buy) a rotisserie chicken and before you refrigerate it, you have to know how long the cooked chicken can sit out. Just as with raw chicken or any other kind of cooked chicken, it is best to put it in the fridge immediately.
But if you are, for some reason, not able to do that, you must know that you can let it stay at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), keeping chicken for more than 2 hours in the temperature danger zone, i.e. 40-140 F, will cause the rise of harmful types of bacteria.
On hot summer days when the temperature can rise above 90 degrees F, it is not recommended to keep your rotisserie chicken on the countertop for more than 1 hour.
However, letting your rotisserie chicken reach room temperature before serving it or refrigerating it is actually a good idea. Just make sure that it doesn’t stay outside of the fridge for more than 2 hours, or for more than 1 hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees F.
How To Properly Refrigerate Rotisserie Chicken?
As I already said, the rotisserie chicken fridge life is estimated at about 3-4 days if it is stored properly. Whether it is a whole chicken or some leftover chicken, you first need to let it cool down to room temperature by letting it stay on the countertop, for not longer than 2 hours.
After that, it is ready for refrigeration. But first, you must pack it properly. It is best to put it in an airtight container (food-storage container that prevents air from entering the container) where it will be safe from excess air, i.e. where it will avoid potential freezer burn.
You can use heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap to wrap it as well. Make sure to wrap it tightly and also cover it to avoid cross-contamination with other foods in the refrigerator.
When you package it, my advice for you is to put it somewhere deep in the fridge and far from the doors because the internal temperature is unstable in the fridge doors or close to them.
If you follow these directions, your rotisserie chicken will not spoil and it will remain fresh to a massive extent in this time frame in the fridge.
What About Freezing Rotisserie Chicken?
You can definitely freeze rotisserie chicken. It will last there for up to 6 months if stored properly.
You can freeze the whole chicken, as well as off the bone and leftover pieces. The first thing you need to do is to let your rotisserie chicken cool down on the countertop and reach room temperature after hours of cooking on the rotisserie.
Just make sure that you don’t let it stay there for more than 2 hours. If the temperature is above 90 degrees F, it shouldn’t be there for more than 1 hour.
When it has reached room temperature, it is best to package it in an airtight container or in a freezer bag. Make sure to pull out all the excess air in order to avoid freezer burn.
After that, you can label the bag or the container with the exact date of storage and you can finally freeze it somewhere deep in the freezer. Make sure that the temperature of the freezer is 0 degrees F.
When you decide to use your frozen rotisserie chicken, you can defrost it in the fridge, on the countertop, or in cold water.
In my opinion, it is best to let it thaw in the fridge overnight because that is the safest way.
How To Tell If Rotisserie Chicken Is Bad
If you are not 100 percent sure that your rotisserie chicken is good, there are some signs that can tell you whether it has gone bad or not. Here are the 4 main signs of spoilage telling you that your rotisserie chicken is not good for consumption anymore.
• Discoloration: If, at first sight, you notice that there is something different in the appearance of your rotisserie chicken, you should definitely look closer. If you see an unappealing green or grey color of the chicken meat, that is a clear sign of spoilage.
• Bad Smell: If you haven’t noticed any discoloration and you are not sure yet, freely smell your chicken meat. If you sense a sour, tangy, or ammonia-like smell, don’t consume the meat.
• Slimy Texture: If you are still unsure even after smelling it, the next step is to look at the texture of the chicken meat. If you notice a slimy texture, then the meat is certainly bad.
• Mold: And, finally, mold is a spoilage sign of almost any type of food. If you notice any mold on your rotisserie chicken meat, throw it in the trash immediately.
If you want to avoid food poisoning or salmonella caused by harmful and pathogenic bacteria, pay special attention to these signs.
See also: How Long Is Chicken Good After The Sell-By Date? Explained
FAQs
Can I Eat 7 Day Old Rotisserie Chicken?
You shouldn’t eat 7-day-old rotisserie chicken unless it has been stored in the freezer properly. If it has been stored at room temperature, it has already spoiled a long time ago, i.e. after 2 hours.
Even if it is stored in the refrigerator the right way, it still won’t be good for consumption after those 7 days.
What Is The Best Way To Store Rotisserie Chicken?
Refrigeration is considered to be the best storing method for rotisserie chicken because in those 3-4 days in the fridge, your rotisserie chicken will retain its freshness as well as quality in terms of flavor and texture.
You just need to store it properly in the fridge, i.e. following the guideline explained in this article.
How Long Does Costco Rotisserie Chicken Last?
Since it doesn’t have an exact expiration date, Costco rotisserie chicken shelf life mainly depends on how it has been stored.
Don’t let it sty for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
If you store it in the fridge, it will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
And, if you freeze it, it will last for up to 6 months if it is stored properly.
Storing Rotisserie Chicken In The Fridge
In this article, I tried to answer most of the questions related to storing rotisserie chicken including “How to store rotisserie chicken?”, How long can it sit out?”, “Can you freeze it?”, and, finally, “How long does rotisserie chicken last in the fridge, and how to refrigerate it properly?”.
So, it is best to refrigerate your rotisserie chicken and it will last for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. Before that, you should cool it down to room temperature, and pack it properly by using an airtight container or heavy-duty aluminum foil.
If you want to extend the chicken’s shelf life even more, i.e. for up to 6 months, you can store it in the freezer. Also, be aware that your rotisserie chicken hasn’t gone bad by learning what the 4 signs of spoilage are.