The 2-pound 12-ounce conventional chicken sold for $7.99 and earned top honors across the board. (The store also offers a certified organic rotisserie chicken for $10.99.) The chicken was the perfect shape and was tied securely with well-tucked wings.
Full Answer
Who has the best grocery store rotisserie chickens?
Here is our ranking of the best grocery store rotisserie chickens, ranked in order from worst to best. 13. Walmart rotisserie chicken Like many items at Walmart, the only good thing about their rotisserie chickens is the fact that it's cheap. You can usually get one for less than $5 — or even less if you time it right.
Does Kroger sell rotisserie chickens in plastic bags?
At the time of tasting, my Kroger store was out of their standard deli rotisserie chicken and only had this upgrade, which comes in a plastic bag instead of a tray. While the plastic bag is more eco-friendly than the bulky tray, rotisserie chickens don't do well in them. Condensation built up in the bag and made the skin soggy and spongy.
Why is rotisserie chicken not at Whole Foods?
Another problem with the rotisserie chicken at Whole Foods is the cost. Considering some grocery stores use rotisserie chicken as a loss leader to draw in customers, you can almost always find good deals. However, that's not the case at Whole Foods — even after Amazon bought the company and lowered the prices of their rotisserie chicken.
Are Walmart rotisserie chickens undercooked?
At other times, and even more distressingly, a Walmart rotisserie chicken can be undercooked. You don't want to slice into it and be met with pink, uncooked meat. The convenience factor will be out the window if you're forced to pop the bird into your oven in order to finish cooking it.
Does Vons sell baked chicken?
Fully cooked. Ready to eat. Fresh from the oven. Quality & satisfaction 100% guaranteed or your money back.
What time is chicken ready at Vons?
Signature Cafe Traditional Whole Rotisserie Chicken Hot - Each (Available After 10 AM)
How much is a whole rotisserie chicken?
At a typical supermarket, it might cost $7 or $8, the same as a fresh whole chicken in the refrigerator case. Less, in some stores. And the store pays for the herbs and the heat.
When should I buy a rotisserie chicken?
When is the best time of day to buy a rotisserie chicken? Supermarkets cook fresh rotisserie chickens every two to four hours from 8 or 9 a.m. until about 4 to 6 p.m. Most often, the best selection and supply is available during evening peak hours, Roerink says.
How many servings is a rotisserie chicken?
four servingsIf you are buying a rotisserie chicken to serve as a main entree, most birds have 4 cups (1 L) of meat, which makes four servings for a main dish. For a family of four, one bird will provide one serving of meat for each person.
Is rotisserie chicken good for you?
"Rotisserie chicken is a healthy choice for people that want a lean source of protein but either don't have the time, interest or skill to cook. It's a low-fat cooking method and the chicken can be used in a variety of ways." says Lisa Andrews, M. Ed., RD, LD, owner of Sound Bites Nutrition.
Why is Costco chicken so cheap?
In 2015, Costco said it was able to maintain its low price because the company considers the rotisserie chicken a “loss leader.” That means its purpose isn't to bring in profits, but rather to bring in customers to buy more of the wholesale retailer's bulk toilet paper and five-packs of deodorant.
What is the difference between roasted chicken and rotisserie chicken?
But with either mechanism, rotisserie chicken is just different from home-roasted chickens, says Kolow. “Rotisserie chicken has a different caramelization, different moisture content, and you'll never have better skin,” says Kolow. “It's a great benefit that we can't have in the house.”
Why is Costco chicken so good?
The chickens are typically seasoned in factories before being shipped to Costco, which is what earns them their “processed food” title. Even Dr. Oz reassured viewers that the birds are some of the healthiest processed foods out there—and removing the skins makes them even healthier.
Is rotisserie chicken healthier than baked?
Because it's oven-roasted instead of fried or deep-fried, rotisserie chicken is much lower in calories and fat than equally convenient options such as fast-food or restaurant fried chicken. Therefore, rotisserie chicken is a much healthier choice.
How do you pick a good rotisserie chicken?
The freshest and best rotisserie chickens will look plump and evenly golden. Pay close attention to the texture of the skin. There shouldn't be a lot of slack, and any wrinkling should be slight. If the skin looks quite shriveled, the chicken has probably been sitting in the warmer for a while.
What is the best tasting chicken?
The BresseThe Bresse — This bird, with its bright blue feet, is regarded as the best tasting meat chicken in the world. A Bresse reaches a mature weight between five and seven pounds in about 20 weeks.
How much does a Walmart rotisserie chicken cost?
When it comes to Walmart's rotisserie chicken, though, you might want to think twice before you grab another one. The low price tag on Walmart's rotisserie chicken can be enticing, but for $4.98 you'll be tossing less than two pounds of chicken into your cart — 1 pound, 13 ounces to be exact.
How much is a full chicken?
Weighing the Price of a Whole Chicken According to the USDA, whole chicken currently averages $1.28 per pound nationwide, which is considerably less expensive than boneless individual pieces, like thighs and breasts.
How much is Sam's rotisserie chicken?
Why it matters: Even as chicken prices nationwide have increased 16.4% in the last year, Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club have maintained the price of their rotisserie chickens. The cooked chickens cost $4.99 at Costco and BJ's, and $5 at Sam's Club.
Is rotisserie chicken cheaper than chicken breast?
TIL that rotisserie chickens are often cheaper than whole raw chickens because grocery stores use them to bring more people into the store and also they are often made with poultry that is about to reach its best by date.
13. Walmart rotisserie chicken
Like many items at Walmart, the only good thing about their rotisserie chickens is the fact that it's cheap. You can usually get one for less than $5 — or even less if you time it right. But if you care about anything other than the price tag, you should stay far away.
12. Whole Foods rotisserie chicken
You will really want to like the rotisserie chicken you buy from Whole Foods, as their chickens are organic, free-range, and free of hormones. However, there's one big problem: they don't taste good. Or, more specifically, there isn't much taste at all.
11. Kroger rotisserie chicken
The largest supermarket chain in the United States, Kroger is basically the Walmart of grocery stores. That comparison holds true when it comes to their rotisserie chickens, too. While their chicken is cheap (with coupons, you can sometimes find them for less than $3 ), it's also not anyone's idea of quality.
10. Stop & Shop rotisserie chicken
Stop & Shop has tasty rotisserie chicken, for the most part. The meat is juicy, flavorful, and will usually leave you with a smile on your face. Their birds are also nice and chunky.
9. Fairway Market rotisserie chicken
Some of the best rotisserie chicken that can be found in the United States used to come from Fairway Market. Unfortunately, they changed things up recently with their recipes and how they cook the birds — and now it's just not the same.
8. Safeway rotisserie chicken
Safeway's rotisserie chicken may surprise you. While they call it a Traditional Whole Roasted Chicken, there's nothing traditional about the taste. It actually has a sweet, orangey flavor — almost to the point that it tastes like orange chicken you'd order at a Chinese restaurant.
7. Publix rotisserie chicken
There is a lot to like about the rotisserie chickens at Publix. They have a wide variety of options, the price is reasonable, and their birds are always hot and fresh. However, two things hold Publix from rising higher in the rankings.
Worst: Whole Foods Organic Rotisserie Chicken
Whole Foods ' rotisserie chicken was tidily trussed and packaged in a plastic bag. It was the smallest of the bunch, weighing in at 1 pound, 12 ounces. It was also the least seasoned—barely even salted.
Kroger Home Fresh Savory Fresh Roasted Chicken
At the time of tasting, my Kroger store was out of their standard deli rotisserie chicken and only had this upgrade, which comes in a plastic bag instead of a tray. While the plastic bag is more eco-friendly than the bulky tray, rotisserie chickens don't do well in them. Condensation built up in the bag and made the skin soggy and spongy.
Costco Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken
This three-pound behemoth chicken is known as one of America's best values. It is an infamous loss leader for Costco, earning it a cult following as the default rotisserie chicken to buy. In the past, I've found it less than dependable for quality, even if the flavor is reliably fantastic.
Walmart Traditional Fully-Cooked Rotisserie Chicken
Did you know you can get a whole cooked chicken for even less than the Costco $5 option? I sure didn't, but that was only the first of the many pleasant surprises from my Walmart Supercenter's deli. This 1-pound, 13-ounce chicken comes with a "Freshness Guarantee" and having scored mine just an hour out of the rotisserie, it definitely delivered.
Publix Original Oven-Roasted Chicken
A classic case of not judging a book by its cover, this deceptively plain-looking chicken from Publix —thrown in a windowed paper bag—wowed from the first bite. Its weight was unspecified and its seasonings—mainly chicken broth, onion powder, spice extractives, sugar, and a bunch of thickening gums to add to the skin's texture—sounded nondescript.
Best Overall: Sprouts Herb-Seasoned Roasted Chicken
I didn't expect much from this pale, unglamorously packaged chicken from Sprouts, but it emerged triumphant as the clear winner from the first bite. It's labeled as a roasted chicken, but the rotating rotisserie at the deli begs to differ.
Walmart
Walmart's rotisserie chicken ranked last on our list due to the consistently poor reviews that highlighted the poultry's lack of flavor and substance. Rotisserie chickens are usually large and juicy, and Walmart's doesn't seem to live up to those standards.
Kroger & Ralphs
Kroger and Ralphs share the same distributor, a process that doesn't seem to excite shoppers when it comes to the chicken. We ranked these grocery stores towards the low end because of the mixed reviews. Some Yelpers highlight how the poultry wasn't cooked through—a major red flag for contamination—while others raved about the juiciness.
Fairway
According to Yelp reviews, Fairway changed its chicken recipe and customers aren't excited about it. Besides the recipe change, we docked points because one buyer had to cook the undone bird at home. Talk about a gross inconvenience!
ShopRite
A recurring theme around these grocery store birds is that they're not always cooked through, and ShopRite's birds are no exception. However, most reviews highlighted the consistently good flavor and tasty seasonings.
Whole Foods
Whole Foods' rotisserie chicken cracked our top three because it's responsibly raised, fed a vegetarian diet, and free of antibiotics, hormones, artificial colors, and preservatives. However, our top two grocery stores surpassed WF in the flavor department. If you're looking for a quality chicken, this pick is one of your best bets.
Sam's Club
Yelpers rave about the warehouse club's big birds that boast a ton of flavor. The poultry is larger than Walmart's but smaller than Costco's, so if you're looking for a decently sized bird to feed the fam, don't look any further than your local Sam's Club.
Costco
It's no surprise that Costco stole the top spot on our list of best rotisserie chickens. It scored A's across the boards regarding flavor, juiciness, and size (these birds are huge!). And who doesn't want to feed the whole family for just under five bucks?
It's hard to think of any bird that isn't simply ah-may-zing. But we've rounded up the best grocery store rotisserie chicken (because everyone deserves a night off from cooking)!
It's hard to think of any bird that isn't simply ah-may-zing. But we've rounded up the best grocery store rotisserie chicken (because everyone deserves a night off from cooking)!
Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas
This is not a drill. These buffalo chicken enchiladas—filled with tender rotisserie chicken, lots of cheese and, of course, Buffalo sauce—are a craveworthy, easy and delicious meal. The entire family will ask for them again and again. —Becky Hardin, St. Peters, Missouri Go to Recipe
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Lauren Cahn is a New York-based writer whose work has appeared regularly in The Huffington Post as well as a variety of other publications since 2008 on such topics as life and style, popular culture, law, religion, health, fitness, yoga, entertaining and entertainment.
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The Not-So-Great
We found that the Whole Foods chicken was not cooked and through when we cut in; thus, it was immediately disqualified (note: we’re aware this was likely a fluke). The Fresh Market chicken had tough, bland skin and a dry interior, making it the least favorite of the bunch.
The Middle Ground
Publix’s rotisserie chicken delivered more moisture and flavor. It was tasty for sure, but it definitely wasn’t the best, and a small collection of gelatinous fat under the skin turned off a few tasters. As a standalone item, we wouldn’t name it as your best option, but a Publix rotisserie works well sandwich or salad purposes.
The Best
We’ve all heard good things about Costco’s rotisserie chicken, and they hold true. We loved the seasoning, savory flavor, and moisture level, and the skin offered a nice crispiness that didn’t disintegrate when cut.