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Rotisserie chicken is the ultimate convenience food that goes with any side dishes. As the dash for dinner begins at the end of the work day, the deli sections of most grocery stores know to have plenty of chicken doing the slow turn for the expected crowds. So, what's a hungry consumer to look for when purchasing store bought rotisserie chicken?

1. Fresh out of the oven? Most deli departments now write on the label the time that the

chicken came off the rotisserie. Make sure it is no more than one hour. Don't settle for
"old" chicken!

2. Look at the deli's workers hands, counter tops, and knives. Are they clean? Is the worker
wearing plastic gloves? Is the floor in the deli clean? The cleanliness of the area is
reflective of the food safety standards for that store.

3. If that time is more than two hours, do not purchase the chicken.

4. The hours of 4:30 pm to 6:30pm are likely to have the hottest and freshest chickens
recently cooked.

5. Look for moist skin on the chicken. Taunt, dry skin is indicative of chicken that's spent
too long in the rotisserie.

6. Select a chicken that has plump legs and breasts. After all, who wants to eat a skinny
bird?

7. Factor in your commute time. Don't leave the chicken in the car while you make more stops.
It needs to be served immediately or refrigerated.

8. Consume the chicken within three days to follow food safety protocol.

Once you find a good store with a tasty rotisserie chicken selection, stick with it! A good rotisserie chicken is an expensive, simple dinner after a long day's work!

Learn more about this author, Jan Vroegin.
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