Costco’s rotisserie chicken is a popular and convenient meal option that can be found at any of the chain’s store, not just in the United States and Canada, but also in all the locations around the world. While these pre-cooked chickens are a convenient and tasty option, it’s important to follow proper storage and handling guidelines to ensure that they remain safe to eat.
How long you should store Costco rotisserie chicken in the fridge? What are the considerations you should take to keep it safe to consume? It’s not that complicated, but follow these could mean the difference between enjoying a nice meal and getting ill.
How long to store Costco rotisserie chicken in the fridge
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), cooked chicken should be stored in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking, and should be eaten in the next days, considering that this is properly store in a good temperature to prevent it to spoil.
This means that you should store your Costco rotisserie chicken in the fridge within two hours of purchasing it, and aim to eat it within three to four days. It’s important to note that these time frames apply to cooked chicken that has been stored in the refrigerator, not the freezer. If you plan to freeze your rotisserie chicken, you can store it for up to four months.
Firstly, there are a couple of things to consider, to correctly keep it. For example, you should handle the chicken properly by washing your hands before and after handling the chicken, using clean utensils, and avoiding cross-contamination with other foods.
Now that you’ve correctly handled your chicken, let’s talk about how to store it: As mentioned above, cooked chicken should go to the fridge as soon as it comes out of the oven, and put it in a lid-covered container to prevent contamination for the chicken, and from it to other stuff. Avoid storing the chicken in the same container as raw meat to prevent cross-contamination.
Now to reheat your Costco chicken to consume it
If you’re reheating your rotisserie chicken, make sure to do so the right way to ensure that it’s safe to eat. The USDA recommends reheating cooked chicken to an internal temperature of 165 °F. You can use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken, or make sure that it’s hot and steaming when you reheat it.
Now, do not put yourself at risk; if the chicken is spoiled, because it has been stored in the refrigerator for more than four days, or if it has a strange odor or appearance, you better discard it. Eating spoiled chicken can cause food poisoning, which can lead to complicated symptoms.