The Best Time Of Day To Find A Fresh Rotisserie Chicken At Whole Foods

If you regularly shop at Whole Foods, there's a strong chance you consider yourself someone who cares about their health and the planet at large. According to The Grocery Store Guy, one of the many reasons behind Whole Foods' popularity is that its products must meet the company's unique set of standards. Based on the Whole Foods website, the company has banned more than 200 ingredients, including preservatives, artificial dyes, and hydrogenated oils.

Whole foods may be expensive, but the health-conscious grocer takes strides for the environment as well. Not only does Whole Foods support farmers who are committed to regenerative agricultural practices, but the healthy supermarket was also the first national grocer to prohibit plastic bag use back in 2008.

Compared to data from 2021, November 2022 research from Pymnts indicates more food shoppers are turning to prepared offerings. Not only that, but in its 2022 "Power of Food Service at Retail" report, FMI also found that 58% of consumers care about the nutritional components of prepared food in grocery stores (via The Shelby Report). If you're one of the 58% who cares about the nutrition behind your grab-and-go meals, Whole Foods rotisserie chickens may be a solid option.

Rotisserie chicken dressed with salt and pepper isn't the only kind of chicken you can find pre-cooked at Whole Foods. Whether you're after a base for soups or looking for something with a little more flavor, Whole Foods not only offers organic whole chickens but also a Paleo-friendly lemon-herb rotisserie chicken. If you've ever wondered what the best time is to snag a freshly cooked chicken, The Krazy Coupon Lady states that rotisserie chickens are cooked and put out every four hours at the natural grocer, with the first round ready for sale around 10:00 in the morning.

According to Whole Foods Market's principal culinary program manager, Carolina Martinez, you may want to wait until around 11:00 or noon so there are plenty of chickens to choose from at your neighborhood store (per Kitchn). If you don't want to take any chances, The Krazy Coupon Lady reminds consumers they can call ahead and reserve a hot chicken to pick up at a more convenient time. (Better yet, if you're an Amazon Prime member, you can even save 10% on the cost.)

If you're after a freshly prepared healthy meal accompaniment without any additives, Whole Foods' rotisserie chickens may be an option to consider.

Who doesn't love the convenience of grabbing dinner that's already prepared? Chicken a great protein option you can add to any weeknight meal; you can even make complete dishes with supermarket rotisserie chicken. According to The Wall Street Journal, the everyday nuance of finding cooked chickens in grocery stores came from none other than the drive-thru at Boston Market, where whole chickens were sold as a quick dinner option throughout the 1990s and are still going strong today. By 1994, both Costco and Kroger were selling precooked chicken, with Whole Foods not far behind.

If you're curious about the differences between Whole Foods' precooked chickens and those from other grocers, Consumer Reports says that many supermarket rotisserie chickens contain a considerable amount of sodium due to the solution used to keep it tender until consumption. 

Fast Food Menu Prices outlines how chickens from Whole Foods are pricier than other retailers, but Consumer Reports confirms that the health-infused grocer doesn't inject its chickens with the sodium-based solution. So if you take off the skin, you significantly decrease your sodium intake. In fact, the only additional ingredients in a Whole Foods rotisserie chicken are salt and organic black pepper.