How Long Does Cooked Rotisserie Chicken Last in the Fridge? We Find Out Once and For All
Picking up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store has always been a great way to save time with busy schedules and still get a delicious dinner on the table. This pre-cooked dinner item is especially nice as it can give you a break from the kitchen—and cooking.
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So, when you're ready to take a break from your exhausting weeknight dinner recipe rotation, there are so many rotisserie chicken recipes to choose from. The chicken can be sliced and served with mashed potatoes, shredded and added to soup with vegetables, or combined with ingredients like guacamole and pico de gallo for Taco Tuesday.
And while expiration dates and sell-by dates can guide you in your choices for making sure you're picking up the freshest food available, if you don't finish the entire bird after one meal, you've probably asked yourself the question: How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge? Read on to find out, before consuming questionable chicken leftovers.
Related: How Long Does Meat Last in the Freezer?
Food Safety 101
According to the USDA, you need to take the correct steps for cooling cooked foods in order to avoid having problems with foodborne illnesses. If the internal temperature of cooked food goes below 140 degrees, you run the risk of dealing with E. coli and Salmonella. Your best bet is to bring home a hot rotisserie chicken and allow it to come to room temperature on the counter, then either serve it or put in the refrigerator. If you can, purchase a chicken close to the time you are planning to serve it.
How To Choose a Rotisserie Chicken
What are you looking for, when choosing a rotisserie chicken from the lineup you're faced with at the market? You want to go with one that has most recently been cooked. Some stores will use a tracking system like colored stickers or markings, or perhaps the chickens are put out in the order they are cooked. If you aren't sure what method your store uses, go ahead and ask for some guidance.
Related: How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken
How Long Does Cooked Chicken Last in the Fridge?
When you bring the pre-cooked chicken home, you need to eat it or store it in within about two hours. If you know you want to store it, and want it to cool down quickly, carve the chicken and remove the bones. When the meat has reached room temperature, you can place it in a designated food storage container and store it in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Freezing Cooked Chicken is Also an Option
It's always a good idea to have a protein like chicken in the freezer. And yes, you can store cooked chicken as well as raw chicken in the freezer. Rotisserie chicken lasts in the freezer for up to four months. So if you're regularly planning meals around rotisserie chickens these days and can't find any at the market, a rotisserie chicken from the freezer can solve the problem!
Next up: 10 Best Chicken Recipes for Dinner
