How long does a rotisserie chicken stay good?
In this brief article, we will answer the question, “How long does a rotisserie chicken stay good?” and provide methods to store rotisserie chicken, detect spoilage, as well as to defrost the chicken.
How long does a rotisserie chicken stay good?
Rotisserie chicken can stay good for 3-4 days in the fridge and 2-3 months in the freezer. If you have leftover rotisserie chicken pieces, they can last for 3-4 days in the fridge too.
How to store rotisserie chicken?
- Rotisserie chicken should be placed in an airtight container in the freezer.
- You can further extend the shelf-life of rotisserie chicken by freezing it. Place the rotisserie chicken in heavy-duty freezer bags before placing it in the freezer.
You can also double wrap the rotisserie chicken by wrapping them in aluminum foil first followed by wrapping it in plastic wrap.
After double wrapping, the rotisserie chicken, place them in an airtight container in the freezer. This can reduce the incidence of freezer burn as well.
- It is essential to refrigerate the rotisserie chicken within 2 hours of preparing it. Avoid storing the chicken for more than 2 hours at room temperature as this can encourage the growth of microbes in the chicken.
Room temperature lies between 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit which is not a proper temperature to store the chicken.
- Place the rotisserie chicken in the freezer at a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit whereas it can be kept in the fridge at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
- You can also vacuum seal the chicken to extend its shelf-life. Vacuum sealing would extend the shelf-life of chicken for 1-2 weeks.
- Make sure to store the chicken in sealed and clean containers. If the containers are not clean, clean them properly before storing the chicken to avoid contamination.
- You can store the chicken more efficiently in the freezer by cutting it into smaller pieces before storing it. The smaller pieces of chicken would freeze faster than the smaller pieces of chicken.
- Store raw chicken pieces away from the cooked ones to avoid contamination.
How to detect spoilage in rotisserie chicken?
- The way to detect spoilage in rotisserie chicken is first by observing it. If you notice any sort of discoloration, it is better to throw away the chicken.
- Smell the rotisserie chicken. If it gives off a sour smell, it is an indicator of spoilage.
- Look at the texture of the chicken. The chicken should not be slimy or mushy.
- Only if you do not observe any above signs of spoilage by smelling or observing the chicken should you taste the chicken. If the chicken does not taste fine, you can throw it away.
How to defrost rotisserie chicken?
Using the microwave
You can use the microwave to quickly defrost the chicken. For this purpose, you would require a microwave-safe container.
Defrosting chicken using the microwave is not recommended. This is because the microwave exposes the chicken to a temperature between 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat also promotes microbial growth in the chicken.
As a result, if you are microwaving your chicken to defrost it, it would be recommended to cook the chicken immediately.
Using the refrigerator
This is the highly recommended method for defrosting the chicken but the longest as well. You might have to keep your rotisserie chicken in the fridge to defrost it overnight.
As a result, you would have to plan for your meals earlier. Thawed chicken can last for 1-2 days in the fridge.
Using cold water
This is another method used to defrost the chicken immediately. This is not a recommended method either but if you wish to cook your chicken quickly, you can employ this method.
- Keep the chicken in a plastic bag that does not have any leaks. This would prevent the chicken from coming in direct contact with water and getting spoilt.
- Fill a bowl with water. Place the bagged chicken into the bowl of water.
- Change the water in the bowl every 30 minutes.
Is it necessary to defrost chicken?
If you do not want to defrost chicken, it is not necessary to do so. You can directly cook the frozen chicken on a stove or oven but the cooking time would exceed 50 percent. As a result, it would be better to defrost the chicken to reduce the cooking time.
Other FAQs about Chicken that you may be interested in.
Can you cook bbq wings in an air fryer?
Can you cook BBQ chicken in an air fryer?
Can you cook the breast of chicken from frozen?
Conclusion
In this brief article, we have answered the question, “How long does a rotisserie chicken stay good?” and provided methods to store rotisserie chicken, detect spoilage, as well as to defrost the chicken.
