Convenience is king, so that makes rotisserie chicken a winner almost every time. Most grocery stores have prepared chickens for you to purchase and turn into quick meals, but it's always nice to know exactly what you're looking for.

1. Look for a beautiful bird! We eat with our eyes first, so make sure the chicken looks moist, the skin isn't wrinkly, and the meat is nice and plump. If you have to examine it too much to find the good stuff, put it back.

2. Most stores offer chickens that are seasoned with different ingredients, like Lemon Garlic, Herb-Crusted, and your basic chicken seasoned with salt and pepper. Think about how you want to serve the chicken, and choose the right flavor for the right meal. If you're going to serve the chicken whole with fresh vegetables, any flavor will do. If you're going to dice the chicken for a pasta dish, go for the chicken flavored with garlic since most canned tomato sauces will echo that flavor. If you're going to shred it for fajitas or burritos, choose the most basic salt and pepper flavor; lemon and rosemary aren't the best flavor fits in Mexican inspired foods.

3. Even though you can reheat chicken and enjoy it, try and purchase the freshest chicken you can find. Like any other food, the less time it's had to sit around, the better. Many stores keep the packaged chickens in a warmer until purchase, but don't be afraid to ask the person behind the counter if they have any chickens that have just been or about to be taken off the rotisserie. Ask for them to hold one for you, finish the rest of your shopping, and stop back at the counter for the freshest chicken.

4. This is a no-brainer, but make sure you purchase your chicken from a store or deli that you trust. If you trust the store and its cleanliness enough to buy your produce and deli meat, you can feel comfortable purchasing a rotisserie chicken.

Learn more about this author, Kendra Adachi.
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