Chicken is a fan-favorite food, and for good reason — from barbecue chicken to chicken quesadillas to chicken parmigiana, it’s a lean protein that serves as the centerpiece for so many different meals. Consider this: In the early 1970s, per capita poultry consumption in the U.S. was almost 50 pounds; these days, it’s more than 100 pounds per person.
Of course, chicken hasn’t evaded the raging inflation that’s hiking up expenses every time we go to the grocery store (or gas station, shopping mall, or — well, just about anywhere.) According to the USDA, wholesale poultry prices are predicted to increase between 19-22% this year.
One way to keep your food expenses down? Shop for your chickens at Costco. Specifically, shop the way you should at Costco — buy in bulk. Do you love the Costco rotisserie chicken (and, especially, its $4.99 price)? Of course, you do. You’re not a monster. Well, did you know you can buy an entire case of uncooked Costco rotisserie chicken for $4.89 each?
Redditors give the scoop on Costco rotisserie chicken cases
Redditor Joes_Barbecue brought this to the attention of the r/BBQ subreddit, and while one commenter, northman46, pointed out that they’d cook them for just a dime more, Joes_Barbecue jokingly said, “You’re in the BBQ sub, friend. We don’t value our time here.”
And sure, northman46 had a point — if you’re pressed for time or don’t have the freezer space to store all those chickens, you might as well buy a cooked Costco rotisserie chicken. But if you do have the time and space (or an upcoming event you’re cooking for)? The case is a great deal.
Joes_Barbecue noted that the cases are flat priced at $48.99, but the actual packing weight is more (closer to 55-plus pounds). These uncooked Costco chickens are also different from the ones you’d find in the meat department because they come pre-seasoned — they’re injected under the skin to brine them, which Joes_Barbecue said saves them a lot of time and space.
But from there, you can make what you want with your chicken. Want to roast it, grill it, smoke it, fry it, or braise it? Want to season it with the special recipe passed down by your grandmother? It’s chicken — you can prepare it just about any way you want.
Can you freeze Costco rotisserie chicken?
If you’re ready to admit that Costco rotisserie chicken is a great deal, you may be preparing to stock up. But can you freeze these bad boys if you buy them in bulk? You can freeze Costco rotisserie chicken, but it’s recommended to freeze it before cooking, which means buying Costco’s bulk uncooked version is better for this preservation method.
Freezing uncooked rotisserie chicken preserves its texture and flavor better. Cooked rotisserie chicken can also be frozen, but its texture might change slightly upon thawing. This may not be an issue for you if you plan to use the cooked chicken in dishes like casseroles or soups where the different textures won’t be as noticeable.
To freeze, wrap the chicken tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Thaw cooked frozen chicken in the refrigerator overnight. While freezing retains its safety, freezing uncooked chicken provides superior flavor results. Always ensure proper storage to maintain taste and quality!
What if you’re not a fan of Costco?
We don’t really understand the sentiment, but we do get that you can’t always have a membership at every warehouse club. The good news is, you can likely find this deal at yours. Redditor DazeyHelpMe confirmed that Sam’s Club sells pre-seasoned chicken this way too, while drizzlefoot321 said they get the same deal at Restaurant Depot, if you’ve got a business license and can shop there.
So the next time you’re shopping, consider buying your uncooked chicken in bulk at Costco. The workers in the meat department will be happy to tag it up for you, and you won’t have to think about what’s for dinner for ages.
