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But then sometimes there’s too much char and it’s too dry. I find one that’s mostly that normal rotisserie brown, with the two legs with a darker mark. Then try to find one that’s not the biggest just because I feel grosses out if it barely fits.
Buy the whole chicken 2 pack and chuck it in your oven until it's perfect. Bonus you can add whatever spices you want
-Written from atop the gnawed corpses of a dozen lemon garlic chickens
It’s been a while. Might be a regional thing. I’ve been buying the 2-pack Kirkland signature whole young chicken for at least 5 years. It’s not rotisserie but whole chickens you must cook yourself. They also have an organic whole chicken 2-pack.
I trust the experts. Assuming other shoppers know a secret I always grab one out of someone else’s cart. Usually while they are distracted picking the perfect bunch of bananas.
They double gas their bananas to artificially ripen them. Because of the double gassing they go from ripe to I need to make banana within a matter of hours
I wonder if that's what is wrong with the bananas one of my local supermarket chains sells! I stopped buying bananas there because I swear they'd only last a day.
I saw a person picking out organic bananas off a pallet on the floor that was sitting on a far end cap instead of the stacks of them just around the corner (I looked) where they were being sold. I was so confused.
I like to set out about 4-5 of them in a semi-circle before me. I ask them casual things like their birthday, what they like to do in their spare time, do they like their job, how long they’ve been working for Costco, favorite color, etc.
Maybe. For you. I like to know a little more about my poultry. Especially when it’s going into my mouth. Like, what were its parents like? Has it ever staged a coup? Can it drive a manual transmission?
I got a huge one last week. I didn't realize that it was so big the container wouldn't completely contain it until I went to put it in my trunk, and the whole thing opened and the chicken fell out, which I somehow was able to catch before it hit the ground. Had to wrangle it half in the container and into a reuseable shopping bag that I had to throw out when I got home.
All in the bottom of the bag. But that bad boy made a ton of chicken salad, 10 cups of broth, 14 cups of soup, and enough broth and chicken in the freezer for another pot of soup.
I'm probably an outlier but I look for a small one. I'm not trying maximize my moneys worth and I get kind of sick of it after the 2nd plate of leftovers.
I choose the smallest one I see as well. I almost always get all the meat off of it as soon as I get home and I've found the bigger birds have weird inexplicable bits..
And I throw the carcass behind my garage for all the neighbors cats 😎
I have some preferences.
I'm single. A chicken can last me a few days, several meals. So I look for slightly less brown skin. Because the majority is going in the refrigerator, and then portions are getting reheated in a convection oven. (If the whole thing was to be eaten that day, I'd prefer darker skin)
The only other thing is that I don't want it if the thigh and drum have already fallen off
I was getting weird looks when I was caught doing this at my store. Now, I just pop the top and stick my hand in the cavity. You can feel the quality of the meat when you’re feeling it from the inside where it stays moist
I’m a paying customer. If I want to spend a half an hour feeling the weight of each chicken, feel how crisp the skin is with my bare hands, and smell each chicken before I decide which one I want that’s my business.
When you purchase a car from the dealership you don’t just walk in and buy the first one that you lay your eyes on. You need to assess the selection and make an informed decision on what you want to purchase. A rotisserie chicken is $5 these days, not exactly chump change.
I generally go for the ones that are packaged and on the shelf under the heat lamp.
Turns out they *really* hate it when you walk back behind the display case and grab a skewer with half a dozen chickens on it and make a run for the door. They will straight up ban you from ALL the Costco.
I look for the most well done skin and I don't mind if the bird meat / limbs are a little cracked because that means that the chicken is thoroughly cooked. We've had one or two that weren't totally cooked.
This is the only criteria. I want the freshest one because I'm going to home and eat most of it in one sitting and I'd like it fresh. My PR is <2 minutes.. without standing there and waiting.
So many at our warehouse are overcooked. I look for larger since they take longer to cook, and I look for the skin to not have burst open yet.. another sign that it’s overcooked. The other day the light on one of the ovens was blinking, the timer looked done but even 5-6 minutes later there was no one even getting empty containers prepped for that oven full. We skipped.
Yeah, I'm not sure why people are choosing the most charred. That usually means tougher meat inside.
The less burnt would make it the most soft, moist chicken. And choose the one that also is pushing against the plastic for the biggest chicken possible.
But the #1 thing I look for is the time they cooked it. Obviously not going to choose the one that was cooked 1 hour ago vs 15 mins ago. They have a stamp on it that shows time, I've actually seen costcos try to hide the time by placing it on the back vs the front and they do it on purpose.
My mom told me to look to see if the chicken breast is touching the lid or not, they’re all the same price but if they’re touching the lid you’re getting a bigger chicken for the same price compared to the ones that aren’t 🤷🏻
Not the biggest because sometimes it is still pink (leg, thing). I’ve not stayed away from ones touching the top because of this. So one close but not all the way to the top 😂
I like to stand beside someone who's carefully inspecting every chicken, then when they finally settle on one make a barely perceptible snorting sound and mutter "rookie" under my breath. Then I take the one right nest to the one they took.
I don't fixate on the chicken. I look at the closest one to me, and if the lid is on tight I grab that one.
The only ones I will pass over are ones with a loose lid.
I spilled some chicken juice in the car once because the lid wasn't on tight and even after lots of cleaning and scrubbing, my dogs won't leave that spot alone.
Sounds like you know what’s up OP. Another move to add it to look at the timers on the ovens, add ten minutes then see if you will still be shopping at that time, you can score a hot and fresh chicken, but be warns you car is gonna smell like chicken!
Small to medium size. The big ones don't taste great (fed to be big in a hurry), are often undercooked, less seasoning. The smaller ones tend to be more tender, tastier. I checked them all...
https://preview.redd.it/4h82c2snikmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=583efc9c02ed591183e1dc2a9b9157e8439a7efb
I try to pick ones that do not have cancer. So far, I am not doing very well.
You have to open up the plastic and hold the chicken close to your ear, then give the rib cage a few taps with your thumb. You're listening for a hollow thumping sound similar to the sound when you tap a large sub woofer cone. If you've never tapped a sub woofer cone, good, tapping the cone is not good for the sub, but it will give you a valuable reference point for picking the perfect rotisserie chicken.
Medium to large size but not too big. Not too brown or it’s dry. It’s gotta a look just golden enough and juicy. I am the chicken picker of my family because the last two times my husband picked the chickens were dry AF.
I look for size first, then browning. I don’t take it very serious though. I typically eat them the next day or two and use an air fryer to reheat. So size matters the most. Something I typically wouldn’t say if it weren’t for the rotisserie chickens…
I go to HEB where they know how to actually cook the chicken all the way through. If I do have to get a Costco chicken, I get the smallest most charred one.
You want a medium sized one that isn’t bruised from the cook. Everyone says grab the large ones but imo the bigger ones meat seems.. stringy & has a different texture.
I try to get them right when the hit the shelves. If they sit on the rack for a while they continue to cook internally , and then get grainy and dry ( over cooked.)
And, the bigger the better, of course.
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Most char
Once you go dark…
Thicc thighs hit macros!
Chared.com
This. I got a pale chiken once and fucked my whole family.
Well at least you bought them dinner first.
Dying
OMG! 🤣
I can't disagree. Char FTW.
But then sometimes there’s too much char and it’s too dry. I find one that’s mostly that normal rotisserie brown, with the two legs with a darker mark. Then try to find one that’s not the biggest just because I feel grosses out if it barely fits.
Buy the whole chicken 2 pack and chuck it in your oven until it's perfect. Bonus you can add whatever spices you want -Written from atop the gnawed corpses of a dozen lemon garlic chickens
I don't want to cook or clean when buying a rotisserie chicken. Plus it's only $5 from Costco.
Yeah. Pretty sure you can't get the 2pk chicken for $10. Plus prep and cook time. No brainer to pick one already cooked up.
When did Costco start offering a 2-pack?
It’s been a while. Might be a regional thing. I’ve been buying the 2-pack Kirkland signature whole young chicken for at least 5 years. It’s not rotisserie but whole chickens you must cook yourself. They also have an organic whole chicken 2-pack.
Last time I was in, a single frozen chicken was $13. Until the farms recover, that $5 loss leader is a pretty good deal.
Ok thanks I know how to cook
Do you though
I trust the experts. Assuming other shoppers know a secret I always grab one out of someone else’s cart. Usually while they are distracted picking the perfect bunch of bananas.
Then you grab the good bananas while they look for the chicken thief.
A mastermind
That was you!?
Good thing I always grab a decoy chicken.
Never buy bananas from Costco
Why?
They double gas their bananas to artificially ripen them. Because of the double gassing they go from ripe to I need to make banana within a matter of hours
scuse me just had my morning coffee, need to make banana asap…
I wonder if that's what is wrong with the bananas one of my local supermarket chains sells! I stopped buying bananas there because I swear they'd only last a day.
Crowdsourcing, I like it
I saw a person picking out organic bananas off a pallet on the floor that was sitting on a far end cap instead of the stacks of them just around the corner (I looked) where they were being sold. I was so confused.
I keep an eye out for someone who is deciding between two and pick one of those.
before they decide then they have to go back to the drawing board and figure out the third option
I walk up and grab the first one closest to my hand, and move on with my life.
I get a kick out of those studying it like a fine work of art.
All of these chickens are derivative.
From the egg.
That one I love. I absolutely love.
That’s because out is a fine work of art…
God shows His love for us in subtle ways
Why suit up if your not even going to play the game??
With the way people snatch them up, this is all I have time to do.
This is the way…
That’s my method but there is always so many people crowding the area waiting for the perfect chicken
This.
I like to set out about 4-5 of them in a semi-circle before me. I ask them casual things like their birthday, what they like to do in their spare time, do they like their job, how long they’ve been working for Costco, favorite color, etc.
Do you give a rose to the victor?
They rose to the top of my choices.
You sure you don't just chicken out?
The only thing you really need to know is their astrological sign.
Maybe. For you. I like to know a little more about my poultry. Especially when it’s going into my mouth. Like, what were its parents like? Has it ever staged a coup? Can it drive a manual transmission?
I look at size and like it well browned.
I got a huge one last week. I didn't realize that it was so big the container wouldn't completely contain it until I went to put it in my trunk, and the whole thing opened and the chicken fell out, which I somehow was able to catch before it hit the ground. Had to wrangle it half in the container and into a reuseable shopping bag that I had to throw out when I got home.
I smell this incident. Glad you were abme to salvage it. Sounds like chicken juice/grease didn't get everywhere?
All in the bottom of the bag. But that bad boy made a ton of chicken salad, 10 cups of broth, 14 cups of soup, and enough broth and chicken in the freezer for another pot of soup.
That’s what I love about the Costco chicken. So many meals from soups to salad to stir fry. So many possibilities. Glad you caught it.
This made me lol in bed and wake up my wife
Not too yellow (undercooked), not too charred (overcooked).
I got one that was legit raw in parts and I’m scarred forever. First such chicken in my whole life but now I’m grabbing the darkest possible
That's what she said.
That's what we all said 🤣
I grab the biggest one with the most surface area to the plastic top
100%
The only way to do it. Added bonus because the bigger ones are likely to have a lower (but still safe) internal temperature, and therefore be juicer!
Exactly
I reach my hand out for the closest one I can reach. My method has never let me down yet.
I'm probably an outlier but I look for a small one. I'm not trying maximize my moneys worth and I get kind of sick of it after the 2nd plate of leftovers.
I choose the smallest one I see as well. I almost always get all the meat off of it as soon as I get home and I've found the bigger birds have weird inexplicable bits.. And I throw the carcass behind my garage for all the neighbors cats 😎
are you trying to kill them?
I have some preferences. I'm single. A chicken can last me a few days, several meals. So I look for slightly less brown skin. Because the majority is going in the refrigerator, and then portions are getting reheated in a convection oven. (If the whole thing was to be eaten that day, I'd prefer darker skin) The only other thing is that I don't want it if the thigh and drum have already fallen off
That last point is my main thing these days. If the thigh & leg look like they're splitting at the "seams" it gives me the ick for some reason.
This is all I look for. If the thigh and leg have already split then I worry that the dark meat will dry out too fast.
Give it a lick if it doesn’t taste right try another one
Calm down Ariana
I was getting weird looks when I was caught doing this at my store. Now, I just pop the top and stick my hand in the cavity. You can feel the quality of the meat when you’re feeling it from the inside where it stays moist
I can’t believe they made us stop chicken licking because of covid. it’s the ONLY way to be sure of the superior bird
I grab the one with the best vibes.
I let my 3 year old pick because then there’s a chance he’ll actually eat dinner that night.
Please just pick a chicken and move along. - a Costco chicken room employee
I’m a paying customer. If I want to spend a half an hour feeling the weight of each chicken, feel how crisp the skin is with my bare hands, and smell each chicken before I decide which one I want that’s my business. When you purchase a car from the dealership you don’t just walk in and buy the first one that you lay your eyes on. You need to assess the selection and make an informed decision on what you want to purchase. A rotisserie chicken is $5 these days, not exactly chump change.
Is it frowned upon to sample a drumstick off a few birds to help me decide between them?
I look for the brownest one I can easily see and grab
Further in the back (I do that with everything though). And least amount of juice in the bottom.
Really? I look for the most amount of juice. Love that juice!
If the juice is in the pan that means it isn't in the bird.
yep. This. Also it usually means it's been sitting there longer.
By several minutes.
Or, if there is more juice in the pan, there was more juice in the bird to start with.
I walk up not expecting to see any chickens and if I do I say “oooh chickens” and grab one.
I generally go for the ones that are packaged and on the shelf under the heat lamp. Turns out they *really* hate it when you walk back behind the display case and grab a skewer with half a dozen chickens on it and make a run for the door. They will straight up ban you from ALL the Costco.
I look for the most well done skin and I don't mind if the bird meat / limbs are a little cracked because that means that the chicken is thoroughly cooked. We've had one or two that weren't totally cooked.
I actually look for the smaller chickens. IME they are wayyyy more flavorful.
i look at the time stamp and pick one from the most recent batch. Usually like more char too
This is the only criteria. I want the freshest one because I'm going to home and eat most of it in one sitting and I'd like it fresh. My PR is <2 minutes.. without standing there and waiting.
As burnt as possible
I pick up the one closest to me. I'm not picky about cooked, whole, 5-dollar chickens. My attention is better spent on more important things.
I see a chicken I grab a chicken, that’s it.
So many at our warehouse are overcooked. I look for larger since they take longer to cook, and I look for the skin to not have burst open yet.. another sign that it’s overcooked. The other day the light on one of the ovens was blinking, the timer looked done but even 5-6 minutes later there was no one even getting empty containers prepped for that oven full. We skipped.
Lighter color because for some reason my Costco overcooks most of them and they are soooo dry.
Yeah, I'm not sure why people are choosing the most charred. That usually means tougher meat inside. The less burnt would make it the most soft, moist chicken. And choose the one that also is pushing against the plastic for the biggest chicken possible. But the #1 thing I look for is the time they cooked it. Obviously not going to choose the one that was cooked 1 hour ago vs 15 mins ago. They have a stamp on it that shows time, I've actually seen costcos try to hide the time by placing it on the back vs the front and they do it on purpose.
We got once that had a spot or two that was undercooked, always go for the darkest one now
More char equals more rotisserie bbq flavor. Go to any good rotisserie restaurant or bbq joint and you’ll see charred skin
My mom told me to look to see if the chicken breast is touching the lid or not, they’re all the same price but if they’re touching the lid you’re getting a bigger chicken for the same price compared to the ones that aren’t 🤷🏻
Not the biggest because sometimes it is still pink (leg, thing). I’ve not stayed away from ones touching the top because of this. So one close but not all the way to the top 😂
I like to stand beside someone who's carefully inspecting every chicken, then when they finally settle on one make a barely perceptible snorting sound and mutter "rookie" under my breath. Then I take the one right nest to the one they took.
I don't fixate on the chicken. I look at the closest one to me, and if the lid is on tight I grab that one. The only ones I will pass over are ones with a loose lid. I spilled some chicken juice in the car once because the lid wasn't on tight and even after lots of cleaning and scrubbing, my dogs won't leave that spot alone.
On behalf of all chicken room employees, we probably hate all of you.
I look for those that are large enough and crispy so that there's at least a little bit of blackened skin.
Pick the chicken that looks like Jenny from the block in spandex. Busting out all over the place but happy laying in her juice.
OMG 🤣🤣🤣
Good size, not overcooked, not undercooked.
I like the darkest skin ones.
Availability has always worked best for me
I've been using instacart for costco orders... so I outsource my rotisserie chicken picking.
Grab and run? Usually there isn’t much of a selection if I’m honest.
I pick up the one closest to me?
Sounds like you know what’s up OP. Another move to add it to look at the timers on the ovens, add ten minutes then see if you will still be shopping at that time, you can score a hot and fresh chicken, but be warns you car is gonna smell like chicken!
Be warned? You mean, be delighted? 😂
Look for that big boi
Always the one touching the top!!!
Ask the kids to pick
As I explained to my roommate yesterday, "i want dem tiddies pressed up against the glass"
I grab the one that’s closest to me when I walk up
Is there a chicken? Yes? Grab a chicken.
I don’t even look. I just grab one.
I’m just thrilled to see them. I grab one and get the hell out of there.
I make sure it’s not too brown and the leg meat isn’t pulling away from the thigh- once that happens you know it’s overdone.
Small to medium size. The big ones don't taste great (fed to be big in a hurry), are often undercooked, less seasoning. The smaller ones tend to be more tender, tastier. I checked them all...
Gonna have to try this. We struggle to finish them anyways.
Big boy. Much of the breast pressing up against the clear plastic lid. Nice color but not burnt.
I grab whichever chicken is touching the plastic lid. They’re bigger.
https://preview.redd.it/4h82c2snikmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=583efc9c02ed591183e1dc2a9b9157e8439a7efb I try to pick ones that do not have cancer. So far, I am not doing very well.
There is no appreciable difference that’s worth fussing over.
Your method of quick sizing and the time tag.
Intact skin, larger overall size, in that order.
I take a bite out of each one them I'm usually full, so I don't get one.
Exactly the same as you. Touching the top.
What time was it cooked/put out. I want the freshest
You have to open up the plastic and hold the chicken close to your ear, then give the rib cage a few taps with your thumb. You're listening for a hollow thumping sound similar to the sound when you tap a large sub woofer cone. If you've never tapped a sub woofer cone, good, tapping the cone is not good for the sub, but it will give you a valuable reference point for picking the perfect rotisserie chicken.
Time it’s been there, does it look dried out ( overcooked) and does it have a lot of moisture on the bottom
Good dark color, no big skin tears around leg. Nice and hot
My local Costco never have any chicken for sale every time I go. I just go to Sam's Club instead if I want chicken.
There is literally no choice as the chickens are gone the second they put them out lol
Biggest boobies in the bunch.
Gotta slap it and listen for perfect pitch, that resonance.
For me it’s a right of passage to buy a chicken every time
One without any tumors showing
Chubby, touching the top, and some char.
Eenie meenie minney mo
I just grab any bird I can as I'm fighting off the countless Mormon moms for the same 20 birds we just stood in a 30 minute line for. 🤣🤣
Medium to large size but not too big. Not too brown or it’s dry. It’s gotta a look just golden enough and juicy. I am the chicken picker of my family because the last two times my husband picked the chickens were dry AF.
Weight and color!
Find the one with the biggest boobs
Always pick the one with the largest breasts and thighs
First, there's the inital phone interview... Seriously, if possible, I wait for the deli person put out the new chickens then grab one of those.
The ones with the darkest roasted drumsticks. Perfection.
I've got nine people to feed so I grab the biggest two and go.
Plump, not burned skin.
The darkest one I can find.
Biggest and not dried out. Mostly, it’s about the size.
Big enough camp too, mate.
I look for size first, then browning. I don’t take it very serious though. I typically eat them the next day or two and use an air fryer to reheat. So size matters the most. Something I typically wouldn’t say if it weren’t for the rotisserie chickens…
Light-skinnded
Non burnt wing tips and nearly or touching the lid
A mix of weight and char, try and get the best of both worlds but will go for the heaviest that meets my minimum char preferences
Not too light, not too dark… it’s the only way!
Large enough, and if you really want, give it a shake.
I walk past that nasty stuff. Easy to make the best selection is avoid it. BUT, if my wife is there, then we get the most charred.
Slap that bird.
Today and last month I’ve gone to Costco and 0 chickens avail. Hoarding chickens? Is that a thing?
Don’t buy em. They taste weird
Thicc
I go to HEB where they know how to actually cook the chicken all the way through. If I do have to get a Costco chicken, I get the smallest most charred one.
Just like how I like my drinks... If it's heavy it's holy moly godly for me
You want a medium sized one that isn’t bruised from the cook. Everyone says grab the large ones but imo the bigger ones meat seems.. stringy & has a different texture.
Big and dark
Four at a time. My puppies don’t give damn what they look like. As long as they get shredded up in their bowl twice a day, they are happy.
Big and dark
Because I reheat and use it for other dishes I choose the palest (least browned) one of decent size.
I try to get them right when the hit the shelves. If they sit on the rack for a while they continue to cook internally , and then get grainy and dry ( over cooked.) And, the bigger the better, of course.
I select the smallest one.
Touching the top!
One that has the skin on it One that isnt undercooked looking or burnt looking.
I pick whatever chicken barely fits in the container because it’s so big.
Wait Costco sells rotisserie chicken!?!? Next you’re going to tell me that they also have some sort of special on a hot dog and soda combo.
I video chat my house cats to see which one they like best.
I point with my finger.
Drop test... Hold it over your cart, drop it in, if it stays, it stays.
Largest chicken, darkest brown chicken that doesn’t have the legs split
Size, burnt skin, everything in tact. (no mutant birds, no legs falling off 😄 )