Costco's Rotisserie Chicken Has a Shockingly Short Shelf Life

Fans of Costco know there are many creative and tasty ways to enjoy the convenient and popular rotisserie chicken. You may also know

information about the popular bird, such as its low price ($4.99) or where to find it (FYI: in the rear of the store). You may not know that this chicken

"They time stamp the rotisserie chicken so it's only on the shelf for two hours because it doesn't taste as good after two hours," David

Schwartz, who penned The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z with his wife Susan, told Insider. Self-proclaimed warehouse club superfans 

David said the rotisserie chicken is removed from the shelf after two hours and used for other Costco ready-to-eat items. It's added to soups and salads

As David explained, Costco personnel time-stamp each chicken and monitor which ones need to be removed after two hours.

According to the FDA, perishable food like dairy, cut fruit, some vegetables, meat, seafood, and cooked leftovers shouldn't be left out

for more than two hours. The period is reduced to one hour if the room (or your kitchen or grocery store) is over 90° F.

Costco may remove and replace chicken after two hours to retain taste, but they may also know it keeps it fresh and safe to serve.

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