Few things unite Australians quite like the humble supermarket roast chook.
Whether you call it a ‘bachelor’s handbag’ or just a lifesaver after a long day, that golden, juicy chicken is a staple in fridges across the country.
For under $12, it’s dinner sorted, sandwiches for lunch or the secret ingredient in a quick fried rice.
Even MasterChef’s Hayden Quinn is a fan, admitting he always has one in the fridge for those ‘need a meal in a hurry’ moments.
But have you ever wondered what happens to those roast chickens that don’t get snapped up by hungry shoppers?
With the cost of living biting harder than ever, and food waste a growing concern, it’s a question worth asking.
Let’s take a peek behind the deli counter at Coles, Woolworths and Costco to find out the fate of the unsold chook.
The four-hour rule: Why you’ll rarely find a sad, old chook
First, a bit of food safety trivia: Australian supermarkets are bound by strict guidelines from Food Standards Australia & New Zealand.
Hot food, including roast chickens, can only be kept on the shelf for a maximum of four hours.
After that, it’s off the shelf—no exceptions. This ensures you’re always getting a fresh, safe-to-eat chook, whether you’re grabbing one for a picnic or a last-minute dinner.
Coles: From hot chook to helping hand
Coles takes food waste seriously. If a roast chicken is approaching the end of its four-hour window, staff will often mark it down to encourage a quick sale.
If you time your visit right, you might score a bargain chook for dinner!
But what if the chook still doesn’t sell? Coles has a two-pronged approach.
First, unsold chickens are often shredded and repackaged as ‘shredded chicken’ in the deli’s refrigerated section.
It’s the same quality meat, just in a more convenient form for salads, sandwiches or pasta bakes.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, Coles donates a huge amount of unsold but still edible food—including roast chickens—to food rescue organisations like SecondBite and Foodbank.
Last financial year alone, Coles donated nearly 20,000 tonnes of food, the equivalent of 39 million meals.
So, your unsold chook could end up helping someone in need rather than going to waste.
Woolworths: Minimal waste, maximum freshness
Woolies follows a similar playbook. Their hot roast chickens are so popular that wastage is minimal, especially during peak times like after school or just before dinner.
Like Coles, Woolworths will mark down chickens as they approach the four-hour limit, giving budget-conscious shoppers a chance to snap up a bargain.
Any chickens that don’t sell are removed from the hot shelf and, depending on the store, may be repurposed or donated.
Woolworths also works with food rescue partners to ensure as little as possible ends up in landfill.
Costco: The chook with a twist
Costco’s roast chickens are legendary for their price—just $7.99, if you’re a member.
But what happens to the leftovers? In the US, Costco repurposes unsold rotisserie chicken meat into deli salads and ready-to-eat meals.
In Australia, the approach is a little different. According to Costco Australia’s country manager, Chris Tingman, chickens are cooked continuously throughout the day to keep up with demand.
As they near the end of their hot shelf life, they’re quickly cooled in a blast chiller and moved to the refrigerated section, where they’re sold at a reduced price.
This not only keeps the chooks safe and fresh, but also helps cut down on food waste.
How to score a bargain chook
If you’re looking to save a few dollars, keep an eye out for those marked-down chickens in the hot food section or the fridge.
They might not be piping hot, but they’re still perfectly good for dinner, meal prep or a quick chicken sandwich.
And if you ever miss out on a hot chook at Coles, ask at the counter—some stores will give you a voucher for a free one next time. Now that’s a win!
The bigger picture: Fighting food waste
It’s heartening to know that our supermarkets are doing their bit to reduce food waste, whether it’s through markdowns, repurposing or donations to charity.
Video Credi: @crafternoons_in_ / TikTok
With millions of Australians doing it tough, every meal saved makes a difference.
Your turn: What’s your chook hack?
Food waste and sustainability remain important topics for many Australians, especially as households look for practical ways to save money and reduce environmental impact.
Understanding how supermarkets handle unsold roast chickens sheds light on efforts to minimise waste while providing affordable options to shoppers.
What are your thoughts on the ways Coles, Woolworths, and Costco manage their unsold roast chickens? Have you ever taken advantage of discounted items nearing their sell-by time? Do you think supermarkets could do more to reduce food waste or offer better deals? Feel free to share your experiences and views in the comments below.
Also read: Coles worker’s ‘lightning speed’ chicken shredding trick goes viral
