How To Reheat A Rotisserie Chicken (Without Drying It Out)

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Having rotisserie chicken for dinner is usually a perfect choice as they are healthy and are not entirely fatty. Its crispy skin and juicy meat make it even more enticing, especially when you have some mouth-watering sides to go with it. But that’s not why you bought it. The real treat is that you didn’t have to cook it. Of course, most of us do not eat an entire chicken in one sitting. So, how do you reheat rotisserie chicken without creating a dry, sad meal destined to become a lackluster chicken sandwich?

Knowing how to properly store and reheat your rotisserie chicken is necessary if you want to have that homemade feel and enjoy it in all its juiciness. This article gives you insights into the proper practices for consuming rotisserie chicken and the best ways of reheating rotisserie chicken to avoid having a dried-out result.

How To Reheat A Rotisserie Chicken Without Drying It Out

While you want to ensure that your chicken is completely reheated, you do not want to run the risk of drying it out, as that will make it less palatable. One of the best practices for avoiding a dried-out reheat is to add a cooking broth. This is suitable for reheating with an oven. The broth will add moisture to that succulent bite.

For other methods, you could also wrap the chicken in a foil, or place a damp paper towel over it. Above all, adhering to the recommended reheat time is key. The longer you heat the chicken, the dryer it will be.

What is the Best Way to Reheat a Costco Rotisserie Chicken?

Now, the instructions don’t differ from one chicken to another, but Costco chicken seems to have a cult-like following of devoted poultry enthusiasts. In their honor, for this guide on how to reheat a rotisserie chicken, I will be envisioning a Costco chicken.

Generally, the labels on a Costco chicken show you directions for the best reheating methods, but for the connoisseur, you want the best method possible to ensure your meal isn’t just safe, but delicious. Here are 6 ways to reheat which keep the chicken moist.

Ways To Reheat a rotisserie chicken

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken on the Grill

If you are looking for that taste that comes with a grill, low, slow, and steady is the golden rule for the perfect result. You may want to cut the chicken into even-sized pieces to achieve an evenly heated result. For the perfect grilled chicken, follow these steps.

Oil the grates of your grill lightly, and preheat them to a low temp. Next, arrange the cut pieces evenly on the grill. You will have to flip each side to cook for 3 minutes at the most. With a thermometer that can be read instantly, check the thickest parts of the chicken. At 165 degrees Fahrenheit, your chicken is ready.

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in the Air Fryer

Using an air fryer to reheat your rotisserie chicken is one of the healthiest choices. The fact that you don’t have to apply oil again means no added calories than what you already have. If you have an air fryer, chances are you know the health benefits of air fryer meals, so I will skip the spiel.

To reheat a rotisserie chicken in an air fryer, you take out the chicken from its wrapping, and carefully set it in the air fryer’s basket. Then at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, cook the chicken for 4 minutes so that it is heated internally. Air fryers circulate hot air that will get achieve that crispy skin you love while ensuring the chicken is moist and done. Once done, you can bring out the chicken and serve.

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in an Oven

Reheating your rotisserie chicken in an oven would require some extra time from you, so this won’t be an option if you are crunched for time. However, it is always worth the time spent as it is the perfect option for the finest flavor that keeps you wanting more.

Put the chicken in an oven-safe dish, then pour in 1 cup (or a little more) of chicken broth to the dish. With your oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, cover the dish with foil and place it in the oven to cook for 20-25 minutes. The broth will ensure that your chicken moistens up really well.

Once done, remove the foil and roast for some 3 to 5 minutes to achieve that perfect level of crispiness. Bring out the chicken and serve. For extra style, place the oven-safe dish directly on the table.

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in a Microwave

For a very fast result, using the microwave is really quick. With this method, overcooking is never a question. Once you have removed the chicken from its packaging, place it on a microwave-safe plate. If you can, cut the chicken into strips and pieces. I recommend that you remove the bones, but you do not strictly have to. Proceed by putting a damp paper towel on the chicken and microwave for 2 minutes. Depending on the quantity, you might want to add 30 seconds to the timer. Once heated, you can remove the chicken and serve.

The biggest downside to reheating chicken in the microwave is that much moisture is lost. In addition to a moist paper towel, try putting some chicken stock, water, or broth in the well of your microwave-safe plate. This will ensure your chicken stays as moist as possible.

Can you Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in a Crockpot?

To consider this method of reheating, you should have a considerable amount of time on your hands. The result is always worth the wait as it gives you the deliciousness of a perfectly moist chicken.

To use a crockpot or slow cooker, you will start by pouring 1 cup of water to the bottom of your slow cooker. Carefully wrap the chicken in aluminum foil and place it in the crockpot with the seam side facing upwards. Then, you put the lid on and heat on high for some 2 to 3 hours, or low between 3 to 4 hours. Once the time is up, you can bring out your chicken and enjoy it.

If you are feeling adventurous and have the time, you can place the chicken directly into the crockpot, bones and all, along with your choice of veggies and seasoning. This will make a lovely chicken soup with very minimal effort. Just be careful of bones when you serve!

Can you Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in an Instant Pot?

If you are wondering if your rotisserie chicken can be reheated in an instant pot, your answer is right here. To have the best result, you will have to use the steam function.

You start by adding a cup of water to your instant pot and putting the trivet in. Remove the chicken from its wrapping, wrap it in foil, and with the seam side facing up, place it on the trivet. Cover with the lid and set the vent as sealed. Your pressure function should be set as “steam”, and you cook for 5 minutes.

Check the chicken temperature after a quick pressure release. Depending on how much chicken you’re reheating you may need to add a couple more minutes of steaming.

How Long Does it Take to Reheat a Rotisserie Chicken?

The time needed to completely reheat a rotisserie chicken until it is safe to eat is largely dependent on the size of chicken left and the heating method. You would want to ensure that your chicken is completely heated so as to avoid some unbalanced temperature before consumption.

Also, reheating with an oven will set you between 20 to 30 minutes before it is certified ready, while an air fryer might just need a little over 4 minutes for complete cooking. Furthermore, you can quicken your reheat time by cutting the chicken down into smaller pieces.

How Long can you Keep Rotisserie Chicken Warm in the Oven?

Since reheating rotisserie chicken in the oven gives you the juicy and moist feel that makes a chicken enjoyable, you may get to use it more often. Although, you may want to keep the chicken in the oven after it is done until your table is set.

You can leave it to sit in the oven as long as the chicken temperature is kept reasonably above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. You may even be luckier if your oven has a setting to keep food warm until you are ready to consume it.

How to Keep Rotisserie Chicken Warm

If you are not planning on eating your rotisserie chicken immediately after it is cooked or reheated, you may need to keep it warm so as not to need reheating again. You can do this by placing it in an oven that is set to a temperature somewhere between 140 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

At this temperature, your food stays hot and will not run the risk of overcooking or drying out as long as you cover it with foil. However, you should not let it sit in the oven for over 2 hours as you might run the risk of losing freshness or even drying out. 

Can you Eat a Rotisserie Chicken Left Out Overnight?

Consuming food that has been left out for a very long time is not always a good option. Considering that the food was left at room temperature, we might be tempted to overlook the fact that it may not be healthy to eat it.  Food safety experts advise that poultry should not be left sitting out overnight. Bacteria contaminate much faster when food is left out at room temperature, and this contamination speeds up exponentially as more hours pile on. To ensure that your rotisserie chicken is safe for consumption, refrigerate it as soon as you are done taking out the part you need, do not let it sit out for long.

Doesn’t Reheating Kill Bacteria?

Leftover rotisserie chicken that spent the night on the counter is covered in bacteria. You might be thinking, okay can’t I just cook it again? Bringing your leftover rotisserie chicken back up to 165 degrees will indeed kill bacteria, but that doesn’t mean it is safe to eat. Dead bacteria will still be on the surface of your meal! Dead bacteria can still make you ill. The only way to ensure your food stays safe to eat is to prevent bacteria from growing.

What Temperature is Rotisserie Chicken Kept at?

Generally, a rotisserie chicken can be cooked up to 183 degrees Fahrenheit, even though they might be good to go at 165 degrees Fahrenheit. As soon as they are brought out, they should be kept at a temperature above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because bacteria grow in temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees. So maintaining the heat above 140 is usually best for keeping rotisserie chicken until you want to eat them. If this is not possible, you may cool them down and have them stored in a refrigerator as soon as they are cool.

Why Should you NOT Reheat Chicken?

Oftentimes, we come across some meals that are not ideal for reheating, or we might be advised due to health reasons to not eat reheated meals. But because most of us do not usually have the time, reheating food is a never-ending option. As it concerns chicken, reheating chicken can alter the quality of protein we get from it.

Reheating chicken may not be an option for you if you frequently get digestive issues from reheated meals. Also, if you have been medically advised to consume healthy protein, reheating chicken will not count towards this as the protein gets broken down each time the same food is reheated.

The bottom line is, you can safely reheat the chicken, but your nutritional benefit from this meal will depreciate with each reheat.

Can you Reheat a Rotisserie Chicken the Next Day?

The good thing about rotisserie chicken is how convenient they are to store for later. As long as you keep the chicken appropriately refrigerated it is easy to reheat. To keep your meat fresh, store it at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Then you can remove them from their packaging or storage container and reheat with whichever method you prefer. You can even refrigerate them for a few days before using them.

How Many Times can you Reheat Rotisserie Chicken?

Rotisserie chicken is enjoyable, but that does not mean that you are likely to finish it off at a go. If you do not have many people at the table, there are always plenty of leftovers that preserve best with refrigeration.

Even the second meal, you may still have leftover chicken if you are dining alone. However, you don’t need to throw it out if there is still some left on a second meal. You can store rotisserie chicken and safely reheat it two or more times after your first time. Note that it is vital to ensure that you heat the chicken thoroughly and completely before consuming it.

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Conclusion

Reheating rotisserie chicken is all about keeping it moist. Steaming in an instant pot is the best solution and also surprisingly convenient.

If you don’t have an instant pot handy, one of our other methods should be able to get you moist reheated rotisserie chicken in no time.

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