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Sometimes when you have a store-bought rotisserie chicken on your countertop, it becomes a bit challenging to keep the chicken warm. If you don’t keep the chicken warm, it’ll dry out before dinner starts. The good news is I’m here to tell you how to keep rotisserie chicken warm.
There are multiple ways to do that. Allow me to walk you through the methods so that you can select whichever suits you the most. So, without any further ado, let’s see the ways we can keep our chicken warm and prevent it from drying.
How To Keep Rotisserie Chicken Warm – 11 Ways For You
Even though you can keep rotisserie chicken warm using multiple different ways, all of them may not be equally convenient for you. So, go through the methods to see the most suitable one for you among these.
The ways are using –
- Oven
- Air Fryer
- Microwave
- Instant Pot
- Slow Cooker
- Aluminum Foil
- Food Holding Case
- Food Warming Tray
- Thermal Insulated Bags
- Food-Grade Food Warmer
- Rotisserie Chicken Warming Bags
Now, let me walk you through some details on how you can keep rotisserie chicken warm for hours, dinner is going to taste better than ever.
Keep Chicken Warm Using Rotisserie Chicken Bags
Warming bags are popular options these days. You can enjoy several benefits when using a warming bag. Using a warming bag will keep the rotisserie chicken warm for sure, but that’s not all.
The bags come with ventilation holes to help escape steam. It’s important to keep your chicken warm and prevent it from drying. The temperature stays in an optimal position, and you can microwave the chicken while it’s in the bag.
Another benefit of using a warming bag is that it’s re-usable. So, once you buy a couple of bags, you can use them multiple times for the same purpose. However, there’s a downside to using a warming bag. You need to spend a fair amount of money if you want to get high-quality warming bags.
On a more positive note, warming bags are super easy to use. They come with zipper locks that you can easily open and close to insert and remove the rotisserie.
Also Read: How To Keep Meat Warm After Smoking For Hours Without Dying Out
Keep Warm Using Food-Grade Rotisserie Chicken Warmer
If you’re on board with the idea of spending some money on a food warmer, you’ll be set for a long time. Insulated food-grade warmers have some excellent benefits. For instance, they’ll keep your rotisserie warm for long time. But that’s not all.
These warmers are mostly portable, so if you’re going somewhere and intend to carry cooked food, this unit can be really helpful.
One downside of using a food warmer is that it’s comparatively an expensive appliance. However, it’s a one-time investment for an extended period, so it’s worth the money.
Besides, these warmers are helpful if you’re looking for an option that’ll keep your rotisserie warm for at least a couple of hours.
Related: How to Keep Hot Dogs Warm After Grilling For Hours
Keep Rotisserie Chicken Warm Using Food Holding Case
Another popular option you can go for is a food-holding case. They’re somewhat similar to warming boxes. However, unlike warming boxes, these are powered by electricity.
Food holding cases are also an expensive option, but they can hold a large amount of food and keep the food warm for a long time. Again, it’s a one-time investment, so it’s worth keeping in consideration.
If you don’t want something that requires an electrical outlet to operate, you shouldn’t consider these options. However, when it comes to warming and keeping food warm, hardly anything comes near a food holding case.
Also Read: Best Hot Pot Grill Combo Reviews (Top 7 Picks)
Food Warming Tray Is Another Great Option
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on your food warming options, you can go for a warming tray. These trays are pretty reasonably priced compared to food holding cases and food warmers in general.
You can adjust the heat on these trays as you see fit and keep your rotisserie warm for as long as you want. The trays are pretty straightforward to use too. You just place the food on the tray after cooking, connect the tray to an electric outlet, and adjust the heat according to your preference.
A warming tray keeps your rotisserie chicken warm without burning or overcooking it. However, the warming tray does require an electrical connection. If that’s not something you wish to go for, I would recommend other options from the list.
Other than that, a food warming tray is a smart, convenient, and affordable option to keep your food warm, including the beautiful rotisserie chicken.
Also Read: Best Rotisserie For Big Green Egg (Top 4 Picks)
Thermal Insulated Bag To Keep Your Chicken Warm
Another affordable option you can think of is the thermal insulated bag. These bags are designed in a specific way to keep your food warm. Besides, they’re great for carrying food somewhere.
So, you can expect versatile uses of these bags. They also come at a reasonable price. However, there’s one downside to using a thermal insulated bag. The bag won’t keep your food warm for long as the other options.
You can consider it a good option if you’re traveling or going on a picnic where you need to carry your food.
Also, you can use any of the best meat resting coolers to keep your chicken warm.
You Can Use Instant Pot
You can also consider getting an instant pot for your rotisserie chicken. The greatest thing about this pot is, it’s so diverse that you can use it as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, food warmer, saute pan, steamer, etc.
So, if you want something to replace a few appliances at once, it might be a good idea to get an instant pot. Besides, you can keep your rotisserie chicken warm before dinner time arrives.
However, it’s an expensive option to consider. So, if you’re only looking for a warming option, I wouldn’t recommend an instant pot. But the versatility of this pot is worth taking a look at.
Keep Rotisserie Chicken Warm In Oven
An easy and available option to keep a rotisserie chicken warm is your oven. Everyone owns an oven. So, you need to do is preheat the oven. Set the temperature to 350 degrees F when preheating.
Warm a baking dish in the oven for about ten minutes and then place the chicken on it. You can expect it to stay warm and juicy for some time.
However, if you want to keep the chicken warm for a long time, it may not be possible with an oven. It’s more of a temporary solution.
Using a baking dish inside the oven has another side benefit. The juice dripping from the chicken becomes a lot easier to clean. Try using a dishwasher-safe dish, so you don’t have to do anything to clean up at all.
You Can Use Slow Cooker
Slow cookers are great. It’s highly likely that you already have one in your kitchen. Using your slow cooker can keep your chicken warm for a long time.
These appliances use low heat for cooking food, which you can use to keep the chicken warm and prevent it from burning.
Ensure that there are juices at the slow cooker’s bottom. Set the temperature according to your preference. You can also add any spices before serving the rotisserie chicken.
Besides, they’re easy to use and don’t take much place in the kitchen. So, if you can’t find anything else, go for your slow cooker.
Microwave Also Works For Keeping Chicken Warm
You can warm your chicken in the microwave too. Try warming the chicken for two minutes for the first time. If it’s not warm enough, try warming it for another minute. If the chicken still isn’t warm enough, cover it with aluminum foil, then heat it again.
If your rotisserie came in a warming bag, you could place the bag directly inside the microwave. This way, you don’t need to worry about cleaning up the juice dripping from the juice.
Besides, the aluminum foil you’re using doesn’t come in touch with the chicken either. Just make sure that the microwave is cold when you place the chicken inside.
Air Fryer Is Considered A Great Choice
An air fryer can keep your rotisserie chicken warm for longer than the microwave can. Use the same method as a microwave. Keep the lid of your air fryer closed to make sure that the chicken stays warm for a longer period.
Like the microwave, you have to ensure that the air fryer is cold before you put the chicken inside it.
The air fryer usually circulates hot air inside the unit using electricity. So, unlike the microwave, it can keep your chicken warm for a bit longer. However, this method is only suitable for people who already own an air fryer.
Use Aluminum Foil
If you’re only looking for a shortcut, aluminum foil is your friend. It can’t guarantee to keep your chicken warm for an extended period. However, if it’s a matter of minutes, you can rely on foil.
Aluminum foil is cheap and easily available around you. However, it can mess with the chicken’s taste. It’s better to use a warming bag and then use aluminum foil to cover it. This way, the chicken will stay warm longer than usual.
What Is The Best Way To Keep Rotisserie Chicken Warm
There’s no consistent answer to this question. It depends on a lot of variables. For instance, if you want to keep your chicken warm for about an hour, you don’t need to prepare for a high-end method.
You can go for plastic bags or aluminum foil. They’re cheap and readily available near at hand.
However, if you need to keep the chicken warm for longer than an hour, you have to look for a better solution. For instance, food warming trays, food warmers, etc., are some great options to consider.
In the end, it depends on your budget, how long you intend to keep the chicken warm, and what’s available conveniently.
Can You Put Warm Rotisserie Chicken In The Fridge
It’s better not to store warm meat in the fridge. Wait till it becomes cold, and then refrigerate it. Refrigerated rotisserie chicken can last up to 4 days.
If you don’t intend to consume the chicken within 4 days, it’s better to store it in the freezer. The freezer can keep the chicken edible for up to four months.
Remember that you can’t leave the rotisserie at room temperature for long. Make sure you refrigerate it within one hour when you’re letting it cool. Using a shallow container will cool down the chicken comparatively faster.
Even though store-bought rotisserie chickens can sit up to two hours, I don’t recommend keeping them at room temperature for more than an hour.
Is It Safe To Wrap Rotisserie Chicken In Aluminum Foil
There’s a possibility that aluminum will leach onto your food. However, food-grade aluminum foil is safe to use.
Even though aluminum foil has a wide range of popularity, many people don’t recommend using aluminum foil on food.
So if you’re conflicted about using aluminum, you can use a plastic wrapper or warming bag beneath aluminum foil to keep your food safe from any chemical contamination.
Even though the aluminum foil is a debated topic to discuss, it’s an excellent option when you want to keep your rotisserie chicken warm for a short period.
Besides, it’s almost always available at every home. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on it either. So, if you’re out of a permanent solution or there isn’t anything else you can use, using food-grade aluminum foil for once will be okay.
However, if you want a permanent solution, I recommend thinking of other options.
Besides, keeping a couple of warming bags in your kitchen supply can be a great alternative to aluminum foil.
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter whether you want your rotisserie chicken to stay warm for a few minutes or a few hours. The proper method is essential. Not keeping your chicken at an optimal temperature can lead to unwanted sickness. So, make sure you learn how to keep rotisserie chicken warm properly to avoid any harm.
Note that all of these methods are effective in keeping your food warm. You have to pick the best one suitable for you.
