Rotisserie chicken is a classic dish that’s easy to make and versatile but after a long day at work there’s not always energy to make a gourmet meal. Luckily, store-bought products are easy to pick up on the way home but not all are equal. Here are some stores with the highest and lowest rated prodcut to make dinner easier for you and your family.
Expert Qualifications on Rotisserie Chicken
Chelsea Davis is a writer for Insider and lives in San Francisco, covering “all things food, drink and travel and is always up for an adventure.” She recently shared an experiment she conducted on rotisserie chicken from 3 large chain food retailers.
Least Popular Rotisserie Chicken
Surprisingly, one of the least popular places to buy rotisserie chicken is Whole Foods. Although the ingredients are recognizable and wholesome, the chicken is dry and lackluster, leaving some to question whether it’s worth the price.
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Costco Rotisserie Chicken
Meanwhile, Costco has a rotisserie chicken that has unrecognizable ingredients. Fortunately, Davis did some research to find the added ingredients aren’t harmful. Rather, they add more flavor and keep the meat fresh and moist.
Affordable Option
Additionally, Costco’s rotisserie chicken is the most cost effective. For example, they’ve consistently remained $5 and according to Rich Galanti, the chief financial advisor in 2015, the product is so popular among customers that Costco plans to keep the price, despite the potential $30-40 million annual profit loss.
“Something Weird”
While there’s much to love about Costco’s rotisserie chicken, and affordability is always a nice bonus, there are a few things to be wary of. Firstly, the rotisserie chicken can have “something weird going on with the skin.” Chelsea describes it as “a second layer of skin on the bird.”
“I‘m not sure what this was, but it didn’t taste very good. This layer between the golden-brown layer and the actual meat was almost like a fat deposit and was incredibly off-putting,” she said.
Inconsistent Texture
Secondly, some parts of the bird were dry while others were moist. However, it’s important to note that depending on who’s doing the food prep and how long it’s been sitting out can affect the quality and texture so Chelsea acknowledges the possibility she “got a dud.” Additionally, the same may be true of her rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods, but with those prices it’s understandable that people wouldn’t want to risk it.
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The Best Rotisserie Chicken is Safeway
Although Costco’s offering does have upsides, the top rotisserie chicken, according to Chelsea, is from Safeway. While it’s more costly than Costco, Chelsea notes that the meat is tender, moist and well flavored.
Gushing over Safeway
“This bird was moderately priced at $9 and a manageable size for a rotisserie chicken at under 2 pounds,” she gushed. “The ingredients made sense: chicken rubbed with salt, paprika, sugar, turmeric, onion and garlic powder, and natural smoke flavor.”
Walmart is more Common
These grocery stores are located throughout the U.S. however, some, like Walmart, have more locations and are more common in rural areas. Therefore, Walmart’s rotisserie chicken may be more attainable for more people. As such, it’s worth mentioning. According to the Walmart label, the ingredients are wholesome and easily recognizable. Interestingly, it does include sugar so be sure to check the ratios before buying it.
Alternate Grocery Stores
Unfortunately, Walmart has faced scrutiny for unethical practices and ingredients. So, it may not be the most desirable place for people concerned about making ethically and environmentally responsible decisions. Alternatives include Sprouts, with locations in 23 states nationwide. Unsurprisingly, Sprouts rotisserie chicken is pricey but it’s flavorful and moist. Another example is Vons, found in over 30 U.S. states. The chain became a “Safeway subsidiary” in 1997 so its rotisserie chicken is associated with the Signature Cafe brand.
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Cooking at Home
The best meals will likely always come out of your kitchen as you’ll have control over how much flavor, salt, or other ingredients are added. However, in a pinch, store-bought rotisserie chicken makes a great family meal and alternative to fast food. Moreover, it goes with pasta and garlic bread, rice and veggies, or any combination of traditional sides for a comforting, home style meal.