Rotisserie chicken remains a go-to for budget-friendly meals, but not all are created equal. A new Consumer Reports study has ranked 10 popular offerings from major retailers, revealing a new champion that dethroned Costco.
The nonprofit conducted the study by purchasing 10 to 13 chickens from each retailer across multiple locations. Sensory experts blind-tested for taste and texture, while laboratories analyzed sodium content, weight accuracy, and the presence of plastic and food packaging chemicals in the meat.
The report goes beyond flavor to examine less obvious factors that define a great rotisserie chicken. These include whether the labeled weight matches the actual average weight and whether the packaging leaches harmful substances into the meat.
Costco's rotisserie chicken, long a fan favorite, did not claim the top spot this time. The full ranking from Consumer Reports identifies which retailer's bird came out on top across all tested criteria.
While the study provides a useful guide for shoppers, critics note that taste preferences are highly subjective and that laboratory results may not reflect all regional variations in product sourcing and preparation.