Do you want to know how to reheat a rotisserie chicken from Costco?
Costco Rotisserie Chickens are one of the most popular items in the mega retailer, and it is easy to see why.
The price has been stable for years, they are always hot and ready, and perhaps best of all, they are delicious. Countless recipes use the pre-cooked chickens as a starting point for everything from soups to quesadillas.
However, chances are that you aren’t going to want to run to Costco every time you want to use one. Likewise, as plump as they are, you may well find that you have some leftovers.
Here we will take a look at how to reheat a rotisserie chicken from Costco.
Rotisserie Chicken from Costco: Whole or Pieces?
The first question that you have to ask yourself when preparing to reheat a chicken from Costco, or anywhere else for that matter, is if you are planning on reheating the bird whole, or if you want to use pieces or even shreds of the meat.
As a general rule, the smaller the piece of meat that you are trying to reheat, the better your luck will be.
Shreds of chicken will be much more consistent than a leg, while a leg will be easier to reheat than the entire bird.
Skin and Meat
Fundamentally, there are two different textures that you’ll be trying to preserve while reheating a rotisserie chicken. The skin should remain crispy, while the meat should remain moist.
This is further complicated by the fact that with many rotisserie birds, the dark meat can be a bit greasy while the white meat is overdone.
However, that is beyond the realm of simply reheating, and can best be mitigated by mixing white and dark meat in whatever application the chicken is being used.
As a rule, a more gentle approach is better for the meat, as it will enable it to get to just around 165 degrees, at which point it is safe to eat.
Meanwhile, something hotter is necessary to make sure that the skin is tasty.
What to Avoid When Reheating a Rotisserie Chicken?
If you are looking to reheat a chicken, consider the size.
Using an oven to reheat some shredded white meat will simply result in the end product being too dry. Meanwhile, using a microwave to warm the whole bird will be less than satisfactory.
Whatever you do, make sure you get the meat above that 165 degree point; this makes sure that any nasty bacteria are killed.
Best Ways to Reheat a Rotisserie Chicken from Costco
As we said, the best way to revive Costco chicken leftovers depends on the application.
If you’re looking to use shredded chicken to go on a sandwich, in a taco, or a casserole, then simply throwing it in the microwave could be your best bet.
Be sure to add just a tablespoon or so of water to help keep the meat from drying out if it is mostly (or all) white meat.
Alternatively, a sous vide machine can help make sure you get your chicken to just the right temperature.
In the event that you are trying to reheat a whole bird, or a large piece like a wing, leg, breast, or thigh, the oven is your best bet.
Be sure to put the chicken on a grate or rack so that hot air can circulate around the whole piece of meat.
While impractical for a whole bird, putting one or two pieces at a time in an air fryer can also allow the skin to stay crisp without prohibitive moisture loss in the bird itself.