For quick meal prep, perhaps no item is more helpful than a grocery store rotisserie chicken. It saves you the time of roasting up your own chicken, and a rotisserie chicken is often much cheaper than making one fresh in your own oven.
As a new Costco member, I was eager to try the rotisserie chicken that takes up a lot of space in the back of the store’s deli. I wondered if Costco would win out when compared to Sams Club in a protein product bigger than the warehouse monsters hot dogs.
To compare the two, I purchased a rotisserie chicken from each location. This is something I could do in person at Costco, but my chicken from Sam’s Club came via Instacart since I don’t belong to that club. Tasting each chicken and noting vital aspects like texture, juiciness, packaging, and flavors, I determined which of the two rotisserie chickens I believe is superior.
Sam’s Club’s rotisserie chickens are a staple for many households. It’s easy to see why they are so popular: they are convenient, cheap, and taste great. But, like any food that goes bad, it’s important to know how long they stay safe to eat and fresh. We’ll tell you how long Sam’s Club rotisserie chickens last and give you tips on how to keep them as fresh as possible in this article.
Overview of Sam’s Club Rotisserie Chicken Shelf Life
As a general rule, a Sam’s Club rotisserie chicken will stay fresh for three to four days if kept in the fridge at 40°F or lower. This window can change depending on a number of freshness-related factors that we’ll talk about in a moment. The important thing is to put the chicken in the fridge within two hours of buying it, cut it up right away, store it in a container that won’t let air in, and keep your fridge nice and cold.
Consuming rotisserie chicken that’s been left out at room temperature for more than two hours significantly increases the risk of bacterial growth and foodborne illness Safety always comes first, so when in doubt, throw it out
Key Factors That Influence Sam’s Club Rotisserie Chicken Freshness
There are several crucial factors that directly impact how long your Sam’s Club chicken will last
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Purchase Temperature: The temperature of the chicken when you buy it matters. It should feel hot to the touch when purchased. If it seems lukewarm or cool, it may have been sitting out too long.
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Cooling Time: Quickly cooling the chicken after bringing it home extends shelf life. Get it into the fridge fast, within two hours maximum.
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Temperature for Storage: Keeping the fridge at 40°F or less all the time keeps food from going bad. Higher temps accelerate it.
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Cross-Contamination: Storing the chicken sealed away from raw meat/produce prevents bacteria spread.
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Individual Sensitivity: Those with weakened immune systems should be extra cautious with food safety.
Proper storage is the #1 controllable factor. Let’s look closer at best practices.
Storing Sam’s Club Rotisserie Chicken for Maximum Freshness
Follow these guidelines for storing your rotisserie chicken:
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Put in the fridge as soon as possible: Put the chicken in the fridge within two hours of buying it. Never leave it out beyond two hours.
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Use Airtight Containers: Store in sealed containers or wrap tightly in foil/plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
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Place on Lower Shelves: Put chicken on lower shelves to prevent drips from contaminating other foods.
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Separate Storage: Keep raw meats/produce separate to prevent bacteria spreading.
Diligent storage habits are essential for maximizing shelf life and safety.
How To Tell If Your Sam’s Club Rotisserie Chicken Has Gone Bad
Even when stored properly, it’s wise to periodically check your chicken for signs of spoilage:
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Bad Smell: If it has a sour, unpleasant, or ammonia-like odor, discard it.
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Slimy Texture: Sliminess or stickiness on the skin likely means spoilage.
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Discoloration: Grey/green tinges indicate the chicken has gone bad.
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Sour Taste: If the chicken tastes off, sour, or rancid, throw it out. Don’t take risks.
When in doubt, playing it safe is always the best call.
Freezing Sam’s Club Rotisserie Chicken
Rather than trying to eat the whole rotisserie chicken within 3-4 days, you can safely freeze it for later use. Here’s how:
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Remove the meat from the bones and divide it into portion sizes.
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Place the portions in freezer bags or plastic wrap. Remove excess air.
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Label the bags with the freeze date and contents.
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Freeze for up to 4 months.
To thaw, refrigerate overnight. Reheat to 165°F until hot and steaming. Freezing may slightly alter the texture.
Repurposing Leftover Sam’s Club Rotisserie Chicken
Shredded rotisserie chicken meat is extremely versatile. Try using it in:
- Salads
- Soups
- Sandwiches
- Tacos
- Casseroles
- Quesadillas
- Pasta dishes
Get creative with the leftovers! This reduces waste and gives you easy, pre-cooked chicken for multiple meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can you leave it out unrefrigerated? Never longer than 2 hours. Discard if left out beyond this.
Can you eat it after 5 days in the fridge? It’s not recommended past 4 days due to increased risk of bacteria.
Is it safe to reheat? Yes, reheat to 165°F. Microwave or oven work well.
Does freezing change the taste? It may slightly alter texture but not significantly impact taste.
How long does it last frozen? 4-6 months if stored at 0°F or below.
Is the sell-by date the expiration date? No, focus on the 3-4 day window and signs of spoilage.
Can you refreeze after thawing? No, refreezing is not recommended. It affects quality.
What if the package feels cold when purchasing? Return it. Chicken that cooled too much before sale may not be safe.
Can you use the bones for stock? Yes, roast the bones first for enhanced flavor then simmer for hours.
Nutrition information and ingredients
Between the two rotisserie chickens, the nutritional differences arent anything substantial. Both chickens come in at 140 calories with 7 grams of fat and 19 grams of protein. The only place they differ is in the sodium numbers. The Costco bird has 460 milligrams of sodium, and Sams Club has 430 milligrams. The difference in your recommended daily intake is only 1%.
In terms of ingredients, there is slightly more variance. While the Costco bird has a simpler ingredient listing, it has one ingredient that may be a little concerning to some: carrageenan. Its intent is to thicken or even provide preservative quality to food. For some, it will be important to note that although the additive is very common, often in other meat products and even nut milks, it may have some concerning effects on your digestive system.
What is a grocery store rotisserie chicken?
All rotisserie chickens are roasted, but not all roasted chickens are rotisserie. The biggest difference is the movement of the chicken during the roasting process. Rotisserie chicken rotates around, cooking evenly throughout, but a roasted chicken, like a chicken you might prepare in your oven at home, gets put in a pan and then sits, stationary, in your oven. There is no constant rotation here.
At many grocery stores, youll find rotisserie chickens in the deli. These rotisserie chickens are only made for a few birds at a time at stores like Walmart, Target, and Publix. At larger warehouse stores like Sams Club and Costco, rotisserie chickens are made on such a large scale, its something of a spectacle to behold.
One of our favorite meals lately has been home-cooked roasted chicken with vegetables. It’s tasty, especially when cooked with the vegetables in the pan, but it takes a long time to make for dinner during the week (or any night). Thats one of the reasons that a grocery store rotisserie chicken is just so beloved. Theres no prep time, and you have dinner nearly ready as soon as you check out.
Rotisserie chickens from Costco and Sams Club are something of a staple item. There are rotisserie chickens on every warm shelf in both stores, so it would be hard to go to either one without seeing them.
If youre a member at either location, you can get the chickens for their listed price. Costcos in-store rotisserie chicken price is $4.99. Not to be outdone, Sams Club offers it for ever so slightly less, at $4.98, making it the cheaper of the two warehouse store rotisserie chickens.
While I am a Costco member, I am not a Sams Club member, so I needed to order my Sams Club chicken through Instacart. At my location, this meant I paid $6.32 for the chicken, more than a fourth as much more. If I werent a Costco member, my price would have been higher there, too, at $6.21, slightly less than a fourth as much more.