You are at the supermarket doing your monthly shopping. Somehow, every month the same food seems to cost a little more. So it’s not surprising that you are thrilled to discover that the deli special of the day is rotisserie chicken, on special at 2-for-the-price-of-1. You would like to stock up and fill your freezer, but do you know how to reheat rotisserie chicken?
I am always budget-conscious when shopping for food, which is why my freezer is my best friend. I like to take advantage of good specials, especially if they are going to save me time as well as money.
On those hectically busy days when you know that you won’t have time to cook, what could be more convenient than having a ready-cooked chicken in the freezer? Rotisserie chicken is a healthy and tasty meal, but the secret is knowing how to reheat it effectively.
If you want to know how to reheat rotisserie chicken, I will give you simple instructions for the various methods that you can use. But, before reheating your chicken, there are a few other things that you should consider.
Is It Safe To Reheat Rotisserie Chicken?
It is perfectly safe to reheat rotisserie chicken, but it is important to ensure that it is heated to steaming hot all the way through, to ensure that no bacteria can start multiplying.
As with any other chicken, rotisserie chicken should only be reheated once. If you still have leftover chicken after reheating, this can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours and then eaten cold, but you should not reheat it a second time.
It can safely be cut up and added to a green salad to make a healthy lunch, or used as a filling for a scrumptious chicken sandwich. (Although I often land up giving these leftovers to the street cats around my apartment block – happy cats!)
Can You Reheat Rotisserie Chicken From Frozen?
While you can reheat your rotisserie chicken from straight out of the freezer, it is always better to defrost it first. Chicken can go off quite quickly if left out for too long. Therefore the safest way to defrost it is by taking it out of the freezer the night before and leaving it in the fridge to defrost overnight.
Should You Reheat A Whole Rotisserie Chicken, Or Cut It Up?
This depends on your needs. Reheating the whole chicken and then cutting it into portions just before eating will help to keep the chicken lovely and moist inside. But cutting it up first and then reheating will speed up the heating process.
The other advantage of cutting up the chicken first is that you can then reheat only as much as you need, and store the rest in the fridge for up to 2 days, to be reheated and used at a later stage.
How To Reheat Rotisserie Chicken
There are a few different ways to reheat rotisserie chicken. Choose the method that suits you best in terms of both the time available and the effort required.
How To Reheat Rotisserie Chicken In The Oven
Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit. If you are reheating the whole chicken, wrap it up in tin foil and place it in an ovenproof dish. Place the dish in the hot oven and leave for about 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken. When heated through, cut into portions and serve.
If you cut the chicken up first, place the pieces in an oven-proof dish and cover with foil, then place in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. Halfway through, baste with the juices that have run off, in order to keep the chicken moist.
How To Reheat Rotisserie Chicken In The Microwave
When reheating in the microwave, it is best to cut the chicken up first. Place chicken portions into a microwave-proof dish and cover with the lid. Microwave on high for about 30 seconds per portion, depending on the power of your microwave. Keep checking until it is heated all the way through.
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How To Reheat Rotisserie Chicken In A Pan On The Stove
Rotisserie chicken can be reheated quickly in a pan on the stove. Spray the pan with a little olive oil and heat over a medium flame. Place the chicken pieces in the hot pan, turning with tongs every 1-2 minutes until heated through, about 5-6 minutes in total, depending on the size of the pieces.
How To Reheat Rotisserie Chicken In An Air Fryer
Air fryers have become extremely popular in recent years, and have almost become the must-have kitchen gadget. I absolutely love mine and use it constantly. It is great for when you want to reheat rotisserie chicken. Simply place the cut up pieces of chicken in the air fryer basket, set the timer for 15 minutes, and forget about it. The chicken will be moist and succulent and will retain all its flavor.
Can You Reheat Rotisserie Chicken In A Slow Cooker?
While it is possible, I do not advise reheating rotisserie chicken in a slow cooker. The chicken will be soft and moist, but it may fall apart and lose some of its flavor. However, it can be convenient on a really busy day. In the morning you can put the whole frozen chicken in the slow cooker on the ‘Low’ setting, and leave it for 6-8 hours. You will then come home to chicken that is ready to cut up and eat.
When deciding how to reheat rotisserie chicken, any of these methods will work well. The one that I like the best is in the air fryer because it is the easiest and most delicious.
Now that you know how to reheat rotisserie chicken, you can shop smart. As long as you have enough space in your freezer, you can maximize every opportunity to save money, and buy a few and freeze when you see a good special.
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