I was thinking about doing a roast today and the idea popped into my head about the rotisserie counter in Tesco. They always seem to have nice looking chickens on display but I've never actually bought one.

Has anyone bought one of these in the past and if so, how were they? Juicy/dry/cremated?

Ta.

If I was going to cheat it would not be with the main event. It would be to use frozen vegetables. I think those chickens look rank.

Nice?! They always look disgusting to me. Probably lacking in crispy skin and bone dry as they are kept in the cabinets so long. Vile.

My idea of 'cheats' are using pre made gravy, or stuffing or par boiling the roasties the night before.

Frozen veg are horrible, all watery and no taste, I always use fresh, sometimes prepared, but always fresh.

I agree the chickens look rank , but then they all look rank to me.

Not looking good!

Well, they smell nice!

But seriously, has anyone ever bought one? Or should I stop being a lazy git and go buy a lovely fresh garlic chicken from Asda like I usually do?

I've done it before with the rotisseries chickens from Morrisons when I want a quick fix after work. They're OK - the skin won't be crispy and the chicken is nothing special, but they're cheap and convenient. If you're going to buy them, see if they've got any chickens in the rotisserie. The oven usually has an electronic timer and you can see how long those chickens will be ready. Of course, this could entail waiting around a bit.

If you find the time to roast a chicken to be a hindrance, you can save some time by spatchcocking it. It'll cook in 45 minutes in a 190-200 degrees C oven. It won't have the grand visual look, but I'm not fussed as I'm only cooking for one or two.
Last edited by BlueZane00 : 26-05-2013 at 11:46

^ This

I've had one and it wasn't dry at all, it was fine. Honestly you'd think people would at least try the food before getting on their high horses.

A woman at work buys them and brings it in the following week for her lunch. She even says they aren't that nice but she normally gets them reduced at her supermarket and so she doesn't mind the fact they don't taste that great. Just because someone doesn't want to eat tasteless pre-prepared meat doesn't mean they are on their 'high horse'. People get very sensitive about bloody chicken!!

The way some of them go on here, you would think they all hand raise and slaughter their own chickens.

Rotisserie chickens from Morrisons or ASDA are nice. The TESCO ones however have always been dry when I have had them, but they are fine for a quick meal.

Oh yes, not want to eat tasteless, crap quality meat means exactly that. why so defensive? Each to their own, but the OP asked for opinions, so he's been given them.

I used to buy half a cooked chicken from Sainsburys for my cat when she was alive and always snaffled a bit for myself and it always tasted nice. Cat used to wallop it down.

Got one from morrisons for my Dad, well part of one when he was in Hospital, it was difficult to get him to eat anything, so we tried this chicken.

He liked it and it looked juicy to me. My sister-had a bit of it and said it was ok.


some people are just used to their meat dripping with fat.

You don't have to have your meat dripping in fat for it to be moist? The supermarket prepared chickens are far more likely to be basted in fat and plenty of other nasties.

Thanks for the replies. Quite a debate with mixed views.

I think seeing as I haven't tried one yet, I might give it a go. I like to try everything once (foodwise, before you all start, lol). I'll report back with my opinion. If they taste as good as they smell, they shouldn't be half bad fingers crossed.

Best get my skates on though!

Oh well if a woman at your work doesn't really like it then obviously the OP shouldn't try one! She wanted opinions from people who have tasted them, have you tasted them?

I know that, but a lot of people don't.


What other nasties?

Yes, a while back from budgens. It wasn't very nice. Next question?

I got a corn fed one from Waitrose on Friday. It was delicious, very succulent and tasty.

Give it a go - maybe they vary branch to branch. I've bought them before and had them two ways. One - just to pick the meat off and eat with your fingers with fresh baked bread - yum! And also to pick the meat off and throw in a risotto. They've always been tasty and the meat very moist. Never had one as the main bit of a roast dinner, but I'd happily give it a go

We often have them when we go on picnics or camping. They are great served with new potatoes and a nice salad. They are tasty and as moist as any chicken.

Were having a roast chicken cooked in the oven, thats the easy bit. But were cheating by having it with a salad rather than gravy/roasts/veg etc. Good for the weather too

yes i cheat with having frozen roasties, just bung in oven with the meat lol

Not necessarily for a roast but I do buy M & S pre-cooked chicken ( breast as there's only 2 of us) ocassionally. You can heat it in the oven with your roasties, eat it cold with salad, make sandwiches, chicken and leek pie etc. Very tasty, large portion for the money and versatile. And you can freeze it so it's a great standby for those days you don't have time to cook.

A 'never cheat' is on the roast potatoes, they have to be my own.

I find it better to cook them from raw as they are cheaper.