It’s not absurd to say that 21st-century America runs on rotisserie chicken. And honestly, Costco has some of the tastiest and most affordable birds around.
The only downside? Because it’s hot and bagged in plastic, it can be kind of a hassle to deal with (especially if you’re buying that 16-count Drumstick ice cream cone box). However, Nich Alvidrez (@_nichtok) says he learned a game-changing method of bagging for transporting his chicken—without a hot-meat disaster.
In a short but frequently viewed TikTok—as of writing it’s got 414,900 views—the “bullying advocate” and proud jorts aficionado shows off a simple trick the Costco cashier taught him.
Chicken Hook?
In the first of two viral TikTok videos, Alvidrez picks up his “emotional support animal,” Costco’s rotisserie chicken. It is, he explains, the “only reason he’s got a Costco membership.”
But the news here isn’t the chicken. “The lady who checked me out at Costco has changed the game,” he says.
In his recent video, Alvidrez is in the Costco parking lot when he starts filming. And the first thing viewers see is two bagged rotisserie chickens dangling from the front-facing child’s seat.
He brings the camera in closer so that the viewers can see exactly what they’re looking at. “She hung the chickens on this little chicken hook from Costco. That’s literally—that’s incredible,” he says.
Though it’s probably not officially called a “chicken hook.” The hook is there to suspend delicate bagged items like produce and bread.
Birds Of A Feather
In the comments, users are thrilled with the post—not just for the life hack, but for the newly minted terminology
“The chicken hook,” one commented, followed by the skull emoji.
Elevé LA Studio (@eleve.la.studio) added, “Never not calling this a chicken hook now.”
Others immediately jumped in and shared other grocery packing hacks. Bugal Supremacy (@bugalsupremacy) wrote, “The lady who showed me to put the Gatorade on the side of the cart saved me so much space. I’ll be adding this to my list.”
But not everyone was thrilled by the prospect of suspended poultry. “Knowing my luck it would tear and explode hot chicken juice all over my groceries,” another shared.
Is Rotisserie Chicken Good For You?
Recently, there’s been a bit of a flap around the healthiness factor of rotisserie chicken. Critics argue the salt content, the factory-farmed chickens, and the plastic bags the chickens sit in can be problematic.
“Heat can cause plastics to leach chemicals like phthalates and BPA into food, especially into fatty items like chicken skin and juices,” notes Epic Water Filters.
This is because phthalates and BPA are endocrine disruptors and are detrimental to human health. They can negatively impact the “functioning of multiple organs, which has negative long-term impacts on the success of pregnancy, child growth and development, and reproductive systems in both young children and adolescents,” reports the 2021 academic paper, “Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health.”
However, EatingWell says that rotisserie chicken is still a better option than fast food. The outlet quotes a registered dietitian nutritionist who says it’s a good source of lean protein and offers a variety of other needed nutrients.
And it has a sneaky upside: “Because it’s usually enjoyed as a quick meal starter, rotisserie chicken is also a fabulous vehicle for boosting your intake of other nutritious foods like whole grains, vegetables and healthy fats.”
It may not be a perfect food. Most people aren’t aiming for perfection. Getting a quick, healthy, tasty meal might be as close as many of us are trying to get.
BroBible reached out to Nich Alvidrez via his TikTok and Instagram direct message. We reached out to Costco via its media request portal. We will update this if they get back to us.