You know how when you find a hot rotisserie chicken right off the spit at the store, you spend the whole way home wiping your chin clean because the smell makes you so hungry?
Well, you’re not alone. The National Chicken Council estimates that more than 950 million rotisserie chickens will fly off those warming shelves and onto consumers’ plates this year. That’s almost three chickens per person!.
What’s not to love? They’re tasty and convenient, and can cost less than a fancy coffee shop latte. For example, Anne-Marie Roerink, founder of the grocery market research firm 210 Analytics, says that rotisserie chicken is often very cheap and much better than going out to eat. She says this grocery store mainstay is most popular with younger shoppers but a big seller among all ages, incomes, and regions.
Because it’s a high-protein, low-saturated-fat meat, you might assume a rotisserie chicken is better for you than takeout, too. But is that really the case? To find out, CR’s nutrition experts looked at the ingredient lists and nutritional information for 16 rotisserie chickens from the websites of seven supermarkets (Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Stop & Shop, and Walmart). While you’ll find flavors such as lemon butter, herb, Latin, and barbecue in stores, we looked at each store’s simplest chickens, which were often labeled plain or original.
The findings? “You can’t assume that all rotisserie chicken is just a plain cooked chicken,” says CR nutritionist Amy Keating, RD.
Rotisserie chickens are a staple for many families looking for a quick convenient protein to add to meals. But when meal prepping or planning leftovers an important question arises how many ounces of meat can you expect to get from one rotisserie chicken? The answer depends on several factors. Keep reading as I break down exactly how many ounces are typically in a rotisserie chicken.
The Average Rotisserie Chicken Yields 20-28 Ounces of Meat
On average, a rotisserie chicken yields between 20 and 28 ounces of edible cooked chicken meat. However, there can be significant variance from this range based on the size of the chicken, its breed, fat content, preparation methods, and how skillfully it’s carved.
To understand why the number of ounces of meat might change, let’s look at some of the most important factors:
Chicken Size Directly Impacts Total Yield
It makes sense that a larger rotisserie chicken will contain more meat. Most grocery store rotisserie chickens range from 3-4 pounds before cooking. After cooking, a general rule of thumb is that 50-70% of the original weight will be edible chicken meat.
- A 3 pound raw chicken may yield around 20 ounces cooked.
- A 4 pound raw chicken could potentially give you 28+ ounces.
So when estimating how many ounces you’ll get, pay attention to the total size and weight.
Breed and Fat Content Influences Usable Meat
The amount of bone, muscle, and fat in a chicken depends on its breed. Chickens that were raised to be meat birds tend to have bigger breasts and more white meat. The amount of fat can also change the final yield. When the chicken is cooked, the fat renders out, causing the chicken to lose a little more weight. This rendered fat keeps the meat juicy and flavorful, but it doesn’t add to the number of ounces of meat that can be used.
Proper Carving Maximizes the Useable Meat
You won’t believe it, but carving skill has a big effect on the total ounce yield. Professional chefs who are very good at carving chickens can get more meat out of the bird than average home cooks. The key is to get all the meat off the bones quickly and without throwing anything away. Leaving a lot of meat on the carcass lowers your total number of ounces.
Preparation Methods May Add Water Weight
The amount of chicken meat doesn’t change during preparation, but brining or injecting broth can make the meat heavier and keep more of its moisture. Add a little extra weight for any spices or rubs you use. To find the total amount of chicken meat that can be used, it’s best to ignore this small amount of extra water that comes from preparation.
Other Important Considerations When Buying Rotisserie Chicken
Beyond just the ounce yield, there are some other useful things I considered when purchasing a pre-cooked grocery store rotisserie chicken:
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Cost: On average, expect to pay $5-10 for a rotisserie chicken depending on the store. Some places offer discount days making it even more affordable.
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Health factors: Rotisserie chickens can be healthy with lots of lean protein, but watch out for high sodium levels from brines and seasonings. Consider removing the skin to cut down on total fat.
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Shelf life: A fully cooked rotisserie chicken will last 3-4 days in the fridge when properly stored in an airtight container. Freeze any leftovers for longer storage.
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Leftover ideas: Shred leftover chicken for tacos, sandwiches, pasta, soup, casseroles, and more! Don’t toss the carcass – use it to make homemade stock.
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Buying vs. cooking your own: For convenience and cost, buying a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is hard to beat. But cooking your own allows control over ingredients and seasonings.
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Safety: Check that chicken reaches 165°F internally before eating. Reheat fully when using leftovers. Discard if you notice any foul odors.
Tips for Getting the Most Meat When Carving a Rotisserie Chicken
Since carving skill directly relates to total usable meat, here are my best tips for getting every last ounce out of your rotisserie chicken:
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Use a sharp carving knife for clean, efficient cuts. Dull knives tear meat.
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Start by removing the legs and thighs, then the wings.
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Next, slice the breast meat off the breastbone in a single piece.
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For the remaining meat on the carcass, use a fork to gently pull and shred it off.
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Don’t forget about the “oysters” – two small, dark meat nuggets on the chicken’s back near the thighs.
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Visualize the path of the breastbone and ribs to follow the natural seams and get all the meat.
What’s Underneath That Crisp Brown Skin?
The simplest way to roast a chicken at home is to season it with a little salt and pepper and stick it in the oven. Rotisserie birds often get a different treatment. “Essentially, all rotisserie chickens are enhanced with a solution [injected into the bird] to keep the birds moist and tasty,” says Tom Super, senior vice president of communications for the National Chicken Council.
Problem is, the injection solution can include sugar, processed ingredients such as natural flavors, gums, and carrageenan—and especially problematic amounts of sodium. “Natural flavors aren’t necessarily as natural as you might think, and you should generally try to avoid processed ingredients as much as possible,” Keating says. If you think chicken isn’t tasty without salt, know that some rotisserie chickens already have a lot more than you would ever put on it yourself.
One of the foods that has the most sodium is Sam’s Club Member’s Mark Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken, which has 550 mg of sodium per 3-ounce serving. That’s nine times as much sodium as a chicken roasted without salt and only a quarter of the daily maximum recommendation for adults (2,300 mg). Costco (Kirkland) chickens aren’t much better, clocking in at 460 mg of sodium.
Rotisserie chickens from BJ’s Wholesale Club (Perdue rotisserie chicken), Boston Market, Publix (Deli Original), Safeway (Signature Cafe Traditional), Stop & Shop (Nature’s Promise and “honey”), Walmart (traditional), and Wegmans (nonorganic plain) have less sodium, ranging from 170 to 368 mg.
Kroger (Simple Truth) rotisserie chickens and organic chickens from Wegmans have much lower levels of sodium, at 40 mg and 95 mg, respectively, proving that not all injected birds are bad news. And Kroger’s ingredients are only chicken, water, and sea salt.
Whole Foods chickens are not injected with a solution, but sodium can still be a concern. While the organic plain chicken has a healthy 70 mg of sodium in 3 ounces, the nonorganic plain chicken has 120 mg, and the nonorganic “classic” chicken has 450 mg. But if you skip the skin, you can avoid a lot of that because the seasonings are sprinkled on top, whereas with injected chickens, the sodium is distributed throughout the meat.
When shopping, the best bet is to check the nutrition facts label and ingredients list, or ask the deli manager for the information if it’s not on the packaging. According to the Food and Drug Administration’s food labeling rules, hot rotisserie chickens don’t need to have this information on the package, but stores with 20 or more locations must have the information available to consumers.
CONSUMER REPORTS: Is rotisserie chicken healthy?
FAQ
How much does a rotisserie chicken weigh?
According to the Department of Agriculture, store-bought rotisserie chickens weigh around 2. 5 to 4. 5 pounds. They’re not the same birds as the ones in the meat case, which weigh 5 pounds or more.
How much rotisserie chicken should a family eat?
A serving size of rotisserie chicken is 3 to 4 ounces. For a family meal, you’ll likely have leftovers. You can shred up the meat for whole-grain bowls with quinoa, brown rice, or farro, and chopped veggies.
How many calories are in rotisserie chicken?
One of the most appealing aspects of rotisserie chicken is its balanced nutritional profile. A typical serving (about 3 ounces) of rotisserie chicken provides approximately 206 calories. This makes it a moderate-calorie option that fits well into various dietary needs. But what about the macronutrients?.
How much does a Costco rotisserie chicken weigh?
The average Costco rotisserie chicken weighs between 2 and 4 pounds.
How much protein is in a rotisserie chicken?
A rotisserie chicken contains approximately 16 grams of proteins. _, making it a good source for those looking for plenty of healthy protein. For example,_, a rotisserie chicken can contain 2 or 3 eggs,_, 1/2 cup cooked white rice,_, and 4 or 5 tablespoons chopped onion.
How many parts make up a whole rotisserie chicken?
A whole rotisserie chicken is typically composed of four to six parts, including the skin, neck, and heart. The chicken itself is an average serving size of two cups. A whole rotisserie chicken has about 16 grams of proteins, making it a good source for those looking for plenty of healthy protein.
How many ounces are in a whole rotisserie chicken?
A whole rotisserie chicken typically weighs around 32 ounces (2 pounds). But the weight can be different. For example, the Freshness Guaranteed rotisserie chickens at Walmart weigh 36 ounces or more.
What’s the average size of a rotisserie chicken?
The average rotisserie chicken weighs about 2 pounds and has about 3 cups of meat. This might not seem like a lot compared to the larger raw chickens in the meat case, which average 4 to 6 pounds. It’s important to remember that cooked weight is usually a lot less than fresh weight.
How much meat is in 1 rotisserie chicken?
Typically, the average chicken would mean about 12 ounces of light meat and 8 ounces of dark meat (skin not included), which totals to about 1,037 calories.
How much rotisserie chicken is 3 ounces?
A 3-ounce serving of cooked rotisserie chicken is roughly equivalent to about half a cup, or the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand, according to Verywell Fit.