Rotisserie chicken is always tasty and juicy, and is an excellent source of protein. Many stores offer this type of chicken at their meat or deli counter. Rotisserie chicken makes for a great dinner because it is a method of cooking everyone seems to like. Of course, some stores do a better job of cooking their rotisserie chicken than others, but when it’s nice and tender and falling off the bones, the taste just can’t be beat!
Can You Freeze Rotisserie Chicken?
You can freeze rotisserie chicken, but it’s important that the chicken be deboned and cut or shredded into small portions first. This way, you can take the chicken out of the freezer as you need it, and it will be super-easy to thaw out.
How To Freeze Rotisserie Chicken
If you’d like to know what’s involved in freezing rotisserie chicken, the process is really very simple. You certainly don’t have to be a chef to freeze any type of cooked chicken, including rotisserie chicken.
What You Need
To freeze any type of rotisserie chicken, you’ll need a large sharp kitchen knife, plastic cling-type wrap, freezer bags, and a permanent marker. It’s best to use cling wrap and not foil because you’ll eventually be taking the chicken meat out of the freezer and placing it into the microwave, and you cannot do this with foil.
Step-by-Step Instructions
These are the steps to follow for the process of freezing your rotisserie chicken:
- Cut the chicken. You’ll want to cut the chicken up and maybe even shred it, then section it out into half- or single-sized servings. A rotisserie chicken is always a whole chicken, and since it’s unwise to freeze a chicken that is whole, use your knife to cut the chicken up into smaller individual pieces.
- Debone the chicken. Wait until the chicken is cooled down somewhat but still warm. Warm chicken can be removed from the bone much faster and easier than cool or cold chicken can. Go ahead and use your hands for this task, with gloves if you have them. Make sure you remove each and every bone out of the chicken and discard all of them in the trash can. Once all the bones are gone, you can separate the cut-up or shredded chicken into different portions.
- Wrap the shredded chicken. Take some cling wrap and wrap each portion of chicken tightly. You might want to leave a loose piece of cling wrap so that it’ll be easier to unwrap the chicken later on. But don’t leave any holes or spaces in the cling wrap because this could cause freezer burn at some point. Make sure the cling wrap is nice and tight and without any ‘bubbles.’
- Bag the wrapped chicken. After you’ve placed the chicken portions in cling wrap, place them in a large freezer bag, either individually or store several of them in one bag. There are many different sizes of freezer bags. You should be able to find a size that fits your portion sizes.
- Freeze the chicken. With the marker, write the expiration date of the chicken on the freezer bag. Make the expiration date four months in the future because that’s how long cooked rotisserie chicken will last. If you put the chicken in a deep freezer, it may last longer than four months.
Can You Freeze a Whole Rotisserie Chicken on the Bone?
Although this is certainly possible, it’s not recommended. Chicken simply tastes fresher when you rethaw it and it’s been deboned and cut up or shredded first. It’s easier to thaw out because the bones don’t get in the way, and it tends to stay fresher for longer when it’s in the freezer. For many reasons, it is best to make sure the chicken is fully cooked, removed from the bone, and made into several smaller portions before being placed in the freezer. Placing the entire chicken in the freezer just won’t produce the same effects.
How To Thaw Rotisserie Chicken
Thawing rotisserie chicken is a breeze. As long as you freeze the chicken in single or one-half servings, you can take it out of the freezer when ready and place it in your microwave for about 35 seconds. This is another reason why you should always wrap the chicken portions in plastic wrap and not aluminum foil. Plastic wrap can go from the freezer straight into the microwave to be thawed out immediately. With foil, you won’t be able to microwave the frozen chicken.
How Long Can You Store Rotisserie Chicken in the Freezer?
As long as the chicken is stored away properly, frozen rotisserie chicken can remain frozen for up to four months. If your freezer remains at 0 degrees Fahrenheit at all times, you might get more than four months out of the chicken, but to be on the safe side it’s best to thaw out and eat the chicken within a four-month time frame.
Freezing rotisserie chicken is simple, and it freezes and thaws out beautifully. If you frequently use shredded or cut-up chicken parts for salads, wraps, and other dishes, rotisserie chicken is great because it has a taste that is very versatile and yummy. After you wrap it with cling wrap, it’s best to use a separate container or freezer bag before placing it into the freezer. If each piece of chicken is wrapped and then put in a freezer bag, they’ll always have the right amount of tightness so they stay fresh longer.
Because it only takes 35 seconds to thaw out a portion of chicken, you can easily enjoy fresh rotisserie chicken for dinner or any time you like. Rotisserie chicken is super-easy to freeze and thaw out when you need it. In fact, when it comes to thawing out chicken that has been frozen this way, rotisserie chicken is some of the freshest-tasting chicken out there.