Costco rotisserie chicken...why is it so good?

Question

One of the only reason i shop at costco is because of the rotisserie chicken, not because its cheap, not because its convenient, simply because its the best spit roasted chicken.
Just wondering if anyone has any idea why the costco chicken is that much better? is it the chicken, the the special seasoning, the special plastic container it comes in? any input or thoughts would be appreciated, and if you know if another place to get great tasting rotisserie chicken or meats- please share on this thread...thank you and to great eating.

Answer

Which other rotisserie chickens are you comparing them to? 

Costco's are probably better than most supermarket chickens because the turn over is quicker and you are not getting a bird that has been sitting around for hours. I think they also use somewhat larger birds. It has been a while since I have had one. They definitely inject them with some kind of seasoning. I personally find them overly seasoned and salty.

For a delicious roast chicken try the Roli Roti trucks, which are at various farmers' markets around the Bay Area. Very good quality chickens, simply seasoned and cooked perfectly.

-----
Roli Roti
, Hayward, CA

Answer

Civil Bear is close to the right answer. They come in brine from the source and I do not think you do not want to know what is in the brine. 

I was did see the ingredient list and it has a lot on it, but if you are interested in seeing the list just ask. 

But I love the chicken for making Chinese Chicken Salad.

Answer

Definitely brined. I find it a bit salty, but not too much.

Ingredients: whole chicken,water,salt,sodium phosphate, modified food starch, sugar,carrageenan,soy lecithin,flavorings and xanthan gum.

"No Preservatives,MSG, Gluten, Artificial Flavors or colors."

Answer

Brined and a bit too salty if you ask me. I don't particularly care for them but that's just preference. Good for second meal uses, as mentioned.

Answer

Because you are accustomed to a lot of salt in your diet.

I find them very salty and unpalatable but I tend to eat much less salt than the average person.

Answer

The reason it's so good is the reason people complain about it--there's a lot of salt in the brine. But any chicken that keeps its breast meat juicy even when it's cold is good. If I make a Costco run, a chicken's coming home with me.

Answer

I, too, purchase the odd chicken from costco and enjoy the flavour very much - but it is so tasty and good that I have often wondered about the additives, as well. My home-cooked turkeys bear a tremendous resemblance to these chickens and I place them in a briney solution for 12 hours prior to cooking. There is definately salt added to costco chickens! My biggest concern about costco chicken is whether or not they are fed growth-hormones, which is illegal in Canada. Are they imported from the USA and thus get around regulations here?

Answer

I don't think it's the best tasting roasted chicken but wow they sure are big for chickens. I try to avoid it.

Answer

Let's not overlook their fabulous baby-back ribs, also. Messy and juicy but fall-off-the bone delicious; best ribs in the area.

Answer

Salt, salt, salt. Probably way more than you should be ingesting. Tasty? Yes. Healthful? No. Much better to roast your own.

Answer

I don't find these good. I bought one once, and was not impressed. Too salty and artificial tasting. In fact, most rotisserie chickens taste that way to me. I've had a Whole Foods bird or two, and they taste to me slightly better.

Answer

The fact that you get a three-pound bird for $4.99 improves the flavor considerably. Esp. when a 1.75-lb bird from the local supermarket costs more.

While there is no question that Costco's birds are really salty, there is a ton of meat on them. We use them in all sorts of dishes, and there's always plenty of scraps for the the dog.

Answer

The Costco in Austin used to carry vacuum packed deboned rotisserie chicken meat. It was fantastic and perfect for a variety of dishes. It's been gone for about a year. Has anyone else seen it?

Answer

Costco rotisserie chickens are injected with bacon fat. That's what makes them taste so darned good. Bacon!

Answer

The chickens are most likely injected with salt based flavorings similar to all frozen turkeys. Usually there is a 20% solution meaning that 1/5 of the weight of the bird before cooking is the injected solution. Of course, a lot of the moisture cooks off, but a some of the moisture remains and the salt helps keep the natural moisture of the meat. You will also see pork tenderloins injected the same way. The ingredient listed in one post has Carageenen. This is just a binder derived for seaweed that helps the meat hold moisture. Same for modified food starch. That is usually a potato powder or nonfat dry milk. Both are in there to hold moisture. With water being the second ingredient after the chicken, the rest of the ingredients are mostly to keep that water from being cooked out. If you ever see the birds before they're cooked, they are rather plump for the average bird you buy in the supermarket. You would be very surprised at the meat that is pumped with flavorings, water and sodium that you would not think should be. Check your labels. If you see the words sodium, salt or water, it's injected. Hence the word, "Processed". 

Bottom line is, the salt content is not too bad. The worst part of the chicken is still the skin. They taste good and like anything else, consumed in moderation is just fine.

Answer

Tastes like Swiss Chalet here in Canada and its yummy and do not get how you can buy a whole bird cheaper that one that is uncooked

Answer

Best roasted chicken you'will ever taste; get a 3-4 lbs kosher chicken, pat it dry with paper towels...put a good amount of salt and pepper..roasted it in 450 for about an hour or hour and 10 min...depending on size...don't do anything to it.
You will fall off the chair because it's so good.

To me, roasted chicken from Costco tastes a bit artificial.

Answer

It is not very good. It is way too salty and artificial tasting.

Answer

I posted my slight liking for these in 2011. I have found lately that if I bring one home, I can place it in an oven proof pan and roast it in my oven for better taste. I think most rotisserie chickens are microwaved and finished fast in an oven. If you roast it a little longer it tastes more like actual roast chicken.

Answer

This thread cracked me up. The chickens from Costco are so salty that I have to keep one in the passenger seat when driving home. Here's a tip: keep a roll of paper towels handy for wiping off the steering wheel. Speaking of salt, I'm a little concerned about all the people giving this chicken meat to their dogs.

Answer

Too bad most of the posters here did not live in "farm country" in the 1940's/1950's. I recall driving with my parents to farms outside of our town, and buying a "fryer' or a "roaster", for around 50 cents. Fryers were "springers", Roasters were generally worn out hens.
Put then in a sack, bring home, and out to the chopping block. Ever see a "chicken running around with its' head cut off?" Then into a pot of boiling water to pluck the feathers, and then to gut the chicken before Mom finish the cleaning of the "inards", and then either fry the fryers, or roast the Roasters.

Now, damissus and I will pick up a Costco chicken maybe every other month. Three meals for the two of us. Great Value, and tasty. Sure beats the old fashioned way.

Answer

I don't like it. It's not just salty; it has a weird aftertaste and is kind of slimy. It's a great buy, but I don't even like it in other dishes, so I don't buy it.

Answer

I think they use magic or witchcraft to make them taste so good.

Answer

Yes they are the best, BUT why do we have to pay 20% tax on the Chicken when it is cold by the time I get home. The regulations say tax is payable on HOT food. COSTCO should offer a chilled section on their Rotisserie counter. Then I would get a free chichen with every five I buy. Maybe there is a TAX fiddle do Costco pay thier vat through Luxembourg, they ignore their suggestion box its only a marketing ploy.
Father Ted

Answer

They are PROBABLY brined. Brined fowl is much better than non-brined. The brining results in both white meat and dark meat retained ample amounts of moisture. This brining technique and effect is laid out in Cooks Illustrated articles about holiday turkeys.

Answer

My question is why is it so BIG? maybe it tastes so good because of all the steroids and hormones they use to make the bird bigger. seriously too big.

Answer

Flavour injection makes it taste even better. Swiss Chalet here in Canada its the same taste. I have a ronco rotissirie and it makes ffod taste better ie inject it with bbq sauce its yummy

Answer

I have watched the chicken process at Costco they simply take them out of a large wax coated cardboard box, wash them, put them on the spit, then rotisse them. "Costco does not Inject chickens with any thing. Please don't say that.

Answer

seasoning recipe please

Answer

My experience with Costco rotisserie chicken for a sensitive food allergy person was a very bad reaction which included nausea, eye pressure and 2 days of migraine headache. I avoided this chicken for almost 9 yrs. Back then, ingredients listed MSG (the culprit) as one of them. On occasions, I do purchase rotisserie chicken but from another store and I have never experienced any adverse reactions (their seasoning ingredients are good) Recently, while with a group of friends who bought one for lunch, I decided to test it by trying a small bit of wing and a thigh. They read the ingredients which stated No Msg but within 15 minutes, I started having pressure to my eyes and slight nausea and an hour later I had a full blown migraine. The same experience I had 9 yrs ago. So I thought there must be ingredients in the seasoning masked. Sure enough, I found this article http://www.rense.com/general92/hidename.html Well, most of these ingredients are in so many ready made foods, it's appalling. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone especially sensitive food allergy people.

Answer

The best rotisserie chicken is always made at home and fresh off the heat, rather than steaming for some time inside a plastic container on a shelf in addition to checkout and transit time.

Answer

Not good tasting at all. Tastes like it was soaked in a chemical brine.

Answer

I don't own a rotisserie and I find Costco rotisserie chicken a great value meal option. My last Costco rotisserie chicken gave me 4 meals and yielded 4 quarts of stock to make chicken and veg soup.

Topics

Locations

Your post has been published!

Costco rotisserie chicken...why is it so good?

Chowhound Recommends

Guides

The Ultimate Guide to Buying, Storing & Cooking Chicken

Explainers

Should You Buy Your Steak From Costco?

More from Chowhound

Food News

Win Game Day with These Vegetarian Party Nachos

Recipe Round-Ups

11 Ways to Gussy Up Guacamole for Game Day

Recipe Round-Ups

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes for Less Morning Stress

Entertaining

Easy Shortcuts To a (Mostly) Homemade Valentine's Day Dinner

Trending Discussions

Home Cooking Dish of the Month - VOTING, February 2021

February 2021 COTM Announcement: LIDIA BASTIANICH MONTH

Home Cooking Dish of the Month - NOMINATIONS, February 2021

What's For Dinner #447 (January 2021) - Happy New Year!

What cookbooks have you bought or do you want? Early 2021 edition!

Quick Links

Latest Discussions

Cookbook of the Month

Dish of the Month

Weekly Menu Planning

Get fresh food news delivered to your inbox

January 2021 Cookbook of the Month: VEGAN JAPANEASY & JAPANEASY

Chowhound

Policies

Community

Editorial

Content