Not much can match the convenience and simplicity of buying a crispy freshly roasted chicken from the supermarket when you’re time-poor or simply not in the mood to cook.
In response to a recent survey, 61 percent of respondents said they will buy a pre-cooked supermarket roast chicken as a lazy meal. And one in five consumers will purchase a roast chicken with their regular grocery shop, with 43 percent having tried various supermarket roast chickens.
In an effort to identify the best value and taste combination, 1500 Australia’s were asked to compare and rate purchased and consumed supermarket roast chickens from the past three months. The criteria were taste, freshness, packaging design, value for money and overall satisfaction. The results include chains that met the minimum required survey sample size of 30 responses.
As rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s 2021 review, these are the best supermarket roast chickens in Australia:
- Costco
- IGA
- Coles
- Woolworths
For 2021, Costco rated five stars – the only supermarket to achieve five stars in any category – and rated best for overall satisfaction. Former winner IGA picked up four stars, while Coles and Woolworths trailed behind on three stars for overall satisfaction. Costco’s Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken is available from the deli department in shops.
Alternatively, you can place a pre-order through the supermarket’s website. A whole hot chook from Costco costs $6.99, though the annual membership fee will cost $60 before you can start shopping. The annual ratings in the poultry category is reportedly one of the most sought-after product reviews by both customers and food outlets.
Canstar’s Megan Birot said: “We went out and we surveyed 1500 consumers to ask them to rate the roast chickens they’ve recently purchased from the major supermarkets.” Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths surprisingly scored the lowest, with both their $10 chickens getting three stars for overall satisfaction and taste. The Coles RSPCA-approved roast scored slightly higher in the value for money category, landing a four.
Reigning-champion IGA was pushed down to second place, with its $11.50 bird rating four stars overall. Canstar said the weekly savings on chicken alone is enough to justify the price of a Costco roast chicken. “If you shop there regularly, then you’ve already got your money back on your membership, and that’s just a great option to save on your weekly dinner,” Ms Birot said. The rotisserie chickens at Costco are iconic.
According to the Kitchn, “Not only are they some of the cheapest rotisserie chickens on the market, but they’re also among the tastiest.”
“Rumour has it, the birds are actually loss leaders for the store, which means they don’t make any money on them, but they use them to get shoppers in the door and hopefully buy something else while they’re there.”
According to Costco Australia, their chickens are cooked every morning, and if they do not sell within two hours, they are taken back into the kitchen and made into other goods.
Baiada Poultry has been supplying its well-regarded Lilydale free-range chicken and Steggle’s fresh and crumbed poultry lines to Costco from the inception of the first Costco store opening in Melbourne in 2009.