Rotisserie chickens are a great quick, easy way to feed your family, whether you make it from scratch or buy the chicken from the store. However, they can be a bit greasy, which can put some people off, but why are most rotisserie chickens greasy?
Most rotisserie chickens are greasy due to the preparation methods used to season the chicken before it is cooked. For example, the chicken will be greasy if the brine contains oily ingredients. Likewise, the chicken will be greasy if the outside is basted with oil or butter to help the skin crisp.
So let’s look at whether they are healthy and what you can do to reduce the greasiness.
Are rotisserie chickens healthy?
Rotisserie chicken can be a healthy option if cooked properly. It retains much of its nutrients and moisture when simmered over indirect heat on a rotisserie for several hours.
The skin, however, is high in saturated fat and salt content, so removing the skin before eating can help reduce your consumption of these unhealthy elements.
Here’s my step-by-step tutorial on how to cook a rotisserie chicken on a Pit Boss pellet grill.
We’ll go in-depth on how to make rotisserie chicken healthier below, so keep reading.
Why Rotisserie Chicken Is Greasy
Store-bought rotisserie chickens are a lifesaver for some people. Having decent quality meat already made and ready to eat can give people the break they need.
Store-bought rotisserie chickens are convenient and a quick way to feed your family in a pinch. In addition, they are excellent and easy to cook at home if you have the time and the tools required.
The only problem with rotisserie chicken is that it can be quite greasy, putting many people off. So, why are rotisserie chickens greasy?
These chickens are usually greasy due to how they are seasoned and prepared before being cooked.
Most stores and people will inject their chickens with brine filled with spices and other ingredients that keep the chicken moist during cooking but can also make it greasy.
Some stores will also apply oil or butter to the outside of the chicken before cooking them to help make the skin extra crispy, but this can also make the chicken greasy.
Are Store-Brought Rotisserie Chickens Healthy?
Many people buy rotisserie chickens for their families when they need a quick and easy meal. Most people think this is a healthy alternative to regular takeout but are store-bought rotisserie chicken healthy?
Unfortunately, some store-bought rotisserie chickens might not be as healthy as you think.
Due to the spices and other ingredients used to prepare the chickens for cooking and the outer coating of oil or butter, these chickens can have a high level of sodium and fat.
However, not all rotisserie chickens are prepared the same way; some stores make them healthier than others.
Generally, rotisserie chickens sold in health food or family-owned stores tend to be healthier than those cooked in multi-chain conglomerates.
This is because the smaller stores don’t cook as many rotisserie chickens at a time, and they don’t have much access to preservatives and other ingredients that the big stores do.
How To Make Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken Healthier?
If you love your store-bought rotisserie chicken but want to eat healthier, there is still hope. You can make your store-bought rotisserie chicken slightly healthier when you’re ready to eat it.
You will need to cut off the chicken skin and throw that away, as this is where the oil or butter was applied, so it will be greasing. Getting rid of the skin will help lower the grease level of the chicken.
You can also let the chicken cool down in your fridge. This will allow the fat to solidify in the packaging. Once the fat and grease have thickened, you can remove the chicken from the packaging and throw the packaging away with most of the grease inside it.
You can then rinse the chicken under warm water to wash off the solidified grease that may be stuck. Then place the chicken in your oven for about 15 to 20 minutes to warm it up.
How To Make Homemade Rotisserie Chicken Less Greasy
Homemade rotisserie chicken is a popular and easy treat for your family. It’s a great way to “slow cook” your chicken and ensure you get the best flavor possible.
Homemade rotisserie chicken is also healthier, which is a big plus.
However, your rotisserie chicken can come out greasy if you are not careful. This can ruin the chicken for many people, so you should try to avoid it.
Thankfully, you can do things to help prevent your homemade rotisserie chicken from getting greasy.
So, let’s cover some methods you can use to ensure your chicken always comes out perfect.
#1 Use A Dry Rub For Your Chicken
Most stores will use oil or butter to baste their rotisserie chickens to help the skin become nice and crispy. However, you don’t need to do this for your homemade rotisserie chicken. Instead, you can use a dry rub for your chicken.
This will do two things; it will dry out the skin, which will help it become crispy, and it will help season your chicken, so it has an excellent flavor.
Using a dry spice rub on your chicken will help ensure it is less greasy when you eat it.
#2 Use A Minimalist Brine
When making your rotisserie chicken at home, injecting some brine into the chicken is still a good idea. This will help ensure your chicken doesn’t dry out through the long cooking process.
However, unlike store-bought rotisserie chicken, you have control over what goes into the brine.
For your rotisserie chicken, try to make the brine as simple as possible, especially if using a dry rub for the outside. This will ensure your chicken is juicy without the brine flavors conflicting with the dry rub flavor.
The fewer ingredients you have in the brine, the less greasy your rotisserie chicken will be, as there will be no oil or butter to add to the grease.
Manage The Chicken Drippings Correctly
Making a rotisserie chicken can be messy if you aren’t prepared, which can also make your chicken greasy. You must ensure you have a dripping tray setup underneath your chicken as it cooks.
The drip pan will prevent the grease from dripping directly onto the cooker, which will cause fatty steam to rise and coat the chicken as it cooks.
This will make your rotisserie chicken greasy. However, managing these chicken drippings can help lower the grease level of your chicken.
Place a single-use roasting tray directly underneath the chicken as it cooks for maximum protection and convenience.
You can also cover the base of the tray with some water to further prevent the drippings from causing any issues.
Final Word
Rotisserie chicken is a helpful thing to have available to you from your local store. However, they can be greasy, which can put some people off. This greasiness is generally from the ingredients used to prepare the chicken before cooking, not the chicken itself.
Fortunately, there are several factors you change to lower the amount of grease on the chicken.
Prepare your rotisserie chicken at home and experiment with different techniques to make it less greasy. Eventually, you’ll find a combination that works for you and your family.
Related Articles
- Why Are Rotisserie Chickens Pink?
- 5 Meats You Can Cook On A Rotisserie
- Can Rotisserie Chickens Be Eaten Cold?
- What Is The Difference Between Cooking and Rotisserie?
- 5 Things To Make With Leftover Rotisserie Chicken
- How Healthy Is Store Bought Rotisserie Chicken?
- Can You Rotisserie Chicken Without Twine?
Sources
https://big-dipper.com/blog/commercial-kitchens-manage-rotisserie-oven-grease
https://www.eatthis.com/secret-side-effects-eating-rotisserie-chicken/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-rotisserie-chicken-healthy