DecodedGuides

How to store rotisserie chicken

Best place: the fridge. USDA gives rotisserie chicken a fridge time (3 to 4 days, from the package date) and no pantry time, so it belongs in the fridge as soon as you get home. The freezer gives 4 months.

Pantry

No guideline

Fridge

3 to 4 days

from the package date

Freezer

4 months

best quality within

How to tell rotisserie chicken has gone bad

General signs for poultry: cooked or processed, the group USDA lists rotisserie chicken under.

  • Sour or sulfur-like smell replacing the usual roasted scent
  • Slimy or tacky film on the surface of sliced poultry
  • Dry, greyish patches on meat left uncovered in the fridge
  • Mould spots, often white or greenish, on cut edges
  • Juices that look cloudy or smell off when reheating

More on poultry: cooked or processed. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

Refrigerate cooked or processed poultry within two hours of cooking or opening, in a shallow covered container. Use within three to four days, or freeze for longer storage in an airtight bag. Reheat leftovers until steaming hot all the way through before serving.

How to store other poultry: cooked or processed

Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.