I just read the story, “Face your stove,” in The News & Observer‘s food section (it has a different headline online), and I just have to take issue with it.
The premise of the story is that you can roast your own chicken at home for less than you can buy one in a grocery story, and it will be healthier and more delicious, to boot:
Rotisserie chickens are a popular takeout item at supermarkets, and they’re not a bad choice. But you’ll pay about $7.50 for one small bird. Grocery store fowl are often highly seasoned, salty and overcooked to the point of dryness.
First off, I don’t know where this reporter has been shopping but I’ve never paid more than $5 (usually I pay $3.99 at Costco) for a whole rotisserie bird. Second, I’ve never bought one, either at a grocery story or at a warehouse store, that wasn’t moist and delicious. Here’s a tip: Don’t wait until there’s only one left and it’s been under the heat lamps for 18 hours.
My wife and I pick up a roasted chicken from Costco quite often because it’s a quick meal that allows for leftovers. You get the first night’s hot meal, a few days of chicken sandwiches and then great stock-making material for soups. I just put the carcass in the freezer and boil it up the next time I make soup.
I remarked to my wife some months ago that there no reason for people to talk about hunger in America when you can buy a delicious roasted chicken for $3.99 and have it provide a meal for several people, or several days of eating for two. A rotisserie chicken is one of the best food buys going, unless you’re gullible enough to pay $7.50 for it.
