This is the third and final post in our ALDI 101 series. But I have to be honest — I kind of don’t want this series to end!
I have been having so much fun reading your comments over email, tweets, Facebook, Instagram, and in the comment section below about Aldi! From those of you who have been longtime fans and have shared your great tips and favorite items, to those of you who may have never set foot in an Aldi but are considering giving it a try, it has been so cool to hear about each person’s unique experience with the store. I have to admit that a reader totally made my day when she shared that she ventured into an Aldi for the first time this week, and loved it. That is so cool!!!! :-)
Well after our first two posts — Why I Shop At Aldi and How To Shop At Aldi — today is the post that gets down to specifics on what to buy at Aldi. I feel like I should probably give a huge disclaimer that this post is based 100% on personal opinion. I have all of my own quirks and preferences, and as you will see below, there is a large section of the store (cereals, many non-organic meats, pet food, makeup, etc.) that I have not tried because those areas do not fall in my normal grocery shopping. And I’m sure there are plenty of items where our opinions may just simply differ! The pina colada popsicles that I adore just may not be your thing.
So please feel free to take this post with a a big grain of Aldi’s sea salt. ;) My hope is to offer a few starting points, and then hopefully you can try some new items and form your own opinions. To organize this post, I have included a few brief thoughts about each section of the store, and then a brief “to buy” and “not to buy” list of specifics. As always, I would love to have you share your thoughts on what you like to buy in the comments below.
This concludes our Aldi series! Thanks so much for joining in the conversation, and I look forward to resuming regular recipe posting with you tomorrow!
Pantry Items
The pantry items are where I recommend people start at Aldi. Almost everything I’ve ever tried in this section is high-quality and consistently way cheaper than anyplace else. Granted, again, there is only one of most items to choose from. So you do not get the option of white whole wheat flour, unbleached or barley flour — there is usually bleached all-purpose flour, and that’s it. But this is an awesome section to stock your pantry, and even try a few of their specialty pantry items in the process.
What To Buy:
- baking essentials (flour, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, basic spices, condensed milk, etc.)
- real vanilla extract
- chocolate chips (semi-sweet, butterscotch,
- nuts for baking (pecan halves, walnuts, almonds, etc.)
- garlic vinagrette (with the garlic floating on the bottom!)
- Fit & Active light balsamic vinaigrette
- natural peanut butter
- clover honey
- breadcrumbs
- whole wheat pasta
- potato gnocchi
- strawberry light & crispy cereal bars
- granola
- oatmeal (any kind — there are lots of options!)
- rice
- dried beans
What Not To Buy:
The only iffy pantry item I have tried at Aldi is their chili powder, but I’m a bit of a spice snob. I think that you get what you pay for anytime you buy $1 spices at a grocery store. I’m also not a big cereal connoisseur, but I do know that their version of Cheerio’s does not taste exactly like the original. Just like at any grocery store, many of the cereals or granola bars are made with extra sugar, so be sure to check out the labels if you’re going for healthy.
Snacks and Sweets
There is actually a really wide variety of snacks and sweets to choose from at Aldi! I don’t usually let myself buy potato chips at the grocery store, but when most all of their chips are under $2, I have to admit that I have now sampled quite a few. And they are pretty much awesome. :)
What To Buy:
- dry-roasted almonds
- waffle bowls
- tortilla chips (restaurant-style, blue and multigrain varieties)
- sweet potato chips
- kettle chips (sea salt & vinegar and jalapeno are my favs)
- moser roth chili chocolate bars
- anise pizzelle cookies
- Haribo cola candy
- chocolate-covered coffee beans
What Not To Buy:
I don’t have any no-buys in this section. I will just mention that occasionally the lower prices equal lower serving sizes in some products. Again, to use chips as an example, often their bags are only about half full. So plan accordingly. (Or just use it as an excuse for portion control!) ;)
Dairy & Refrigerated Items
This is one category where it is “to each his own”. The majority of Aldi’s dairy products are not organic, although more and more organic options (and alternatives like almond milk!) are starting to pop up. The refrigerated section also seems to have a lot of variety and turnover, so while there may be marscapone and brie some months, they might not be there year-round. Still, my cart is always filled with lots of items from this section each time I go! And I always stock up on butter each time I’m there. It tastes great, and it is always so cheap!
What To Buy:
- BUTTER!
- fresh mozzarella balls
- hummus (roasted red pepper, garlic and cayenne are my three favorites)
- fresh salsas (I love the medium)
- marscapone
- soft cheeses (gorgonzola, blue, goat and feta are usually available)
- cream cheese (regular and reduced-fat)
- greek yogurt (often they have the Fage brand, and I also like their black cherry)
- original organic soymilk
- natural almond milk
- skim milk, 2% milk, whole milk, half and half, heavy cream (none are organic, but they are pretty good!)
- eggs
- cinnamon rolls
What Not To Buy:
Obviously if you are looking for organic, anything that is not marked as such is a no. I also think that many of their block cheeses are ok, but probably about worth what you pay for.
Produce
Ok, people, this has become my favorite section of Aldi! Trust me — there is some amazing produce to be found here at some of the best prices I’ve found. But here’s the deal…
You must be smart about choosing your produce. Just like at the normal grocery store, not every piece of produce is going to be perfectly ripe or at its peak season each time you visit. Case in point — Aldi can have incredible deals on avocadoes. (They are $0.19 each this week!) But if the avocado is wilted, or hard as a rock, it’s probably not a good day to buy it. The same goes for if you see any produce that looks super over- or under-ripe. If it looks iffy, you should probably wait until your next trip. Or you may need to eat it immediately, or wait a week for it to ripen if need be. But most of the time, I am completely impressed with their selection of ripe, affordable, delicious produce.
Most of their produce is also not organic, so just a heads-up if that is an important factor to you. Also many of their produce items (onions, zucchini, oranges, apples, kiwi, etc.) come in bags or in bulk. So there is not always the option to buy a single of some items.
Still, I always load up my cart with Aldi produce, so here are some of my favs!
What To Buy:
- pineapple
- lemons/limes
- baby carrots
- celery
- mushrooms
- green onions
- sweet mini peppers
- specialty lettuce
- berries (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries)
- zucchini and yellow squash
- kiwi
- pears
- mangoes
What Not To Buy:
Again, anything that looks iffy. I find that their roma tomatoes typically are not very ripe or flavorful. And I would also offer a special note on the bananas — they are awesome, but often they are over- or under-ripe, so you need to eat them in the proper timeframe.
Refrigerated Meats
As I said above, I prefer to buy most of my meat organic, so I haven’t tried tons of Aldi’s refrigerated meat options. But they have some killer deals on meats, especially in their weekly fresh meat special buys! Be sure to always check for those specials when they are published each Wednesday, as they tend to disappear quickly! A lot of the meat at Aldi is also seasonal, so be sure around the holidays to check out their hams and turkeys. They are amazing!
What To Buy:
- turkey bacon
- ground turkey
- thick peppered bacon
- spiral-cut ham
- turkeys
What Not To Buy:
Just a heads up that their cheapest bacon is really thin and not very lean. I would “splurge” and go for one of the thicker cuts, since that is practically the same price as the inexpensive bacon at the regular grocery store!
Canned/Jarred Goods
Thus far, I have had 100% positive experiences with the canned and jarred section at Aldi. They have a great selection of your basic canned fruits and veggies, and lots of canned sauces and such to choose from. And the prices are fantastic! Once again, I would caution to read the labels. Their canned peaches have a ton of sugar, as the generic canned peaches do at most stores. And some of their sauces and soups contain more processed ingredients than I prefer, as is common in many jarred sauces. But still, don’t be scared of any of the canned produce from Aldi — it’s awesome!
What To Buy:
- canned veggies
- canned fruits
- canned beans
- jarred marinara sauce
What Not To Buy:
Anything that you might be iffy about being overly-processed. (Look for some Gimme Some Oven recipes for easy alternatives to make soups homemade!) And again, keep an eye on the sugar content with canned fruits.
Frozen Foods
To be honest, this is a section that I don’t know a ton about. I usually stick with pretty straight “ingredients” in the frozen food section — frozen fruit, fish, veggies, etc. So if any of you have insights on more of the prepared frozen foods, would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
What To Buy:
- jumbo shrimp
- tilapia
- fruit popsicles (pina colada, lime and strawberry)
- moose tracks ice cream
- frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, mixed berries, etc.)
- edamame
- asparagus
What Not To Buy:
Any of their frozen shrimp that are not “jumbo” are tiny. I have also not been super impressed with their frozen salmon. Like most salmon in that price range in any grocery stores, it seems a little lacking in flavor. Also a heads-up that most of the frozen meats are not organic.
Beverages
Gah, I wish I had more experience here! I promise you guys I’m not a super health nut, but I also pretty much stick to water, tea, juices and coffee in life. So I have hardly any experience here when it comes to beverages. But my friends tell me that most of their options (like the Aldi brand of Crystal Light, teas and flavored sparkling waters) are pretty much identical to the originals. Here are a few that I have tried.
What To Buy:
- sparkling juice (I love all of them!)
- refrigerated 100% orange juice (go for the nicer of the two options for better flavor)
- Naked juice (when in stock)
- flavored sparkling water drinks
- iced tea
What Not To Buy:
I am definitely a big of a snob when it comes to my coffee. So I shy away from any of the bulk or super inexpensive coffee options, but I am sure they are comparable to their counterparts in the regular grocery store. I was also unimpressed by the cheap refrigerated orange juice — seemed to concentrate-y for me.
Alcoholic Drinks
First of all, it’s important to point out that wine and liquors are not available in all Aldi’s. I live in KC, and our Kansas stores are not allowed to carry alcoholic beverages, but most of the Missouri locations do. So this will depend on your state.
A reminder to all who are iffy about the cheap wine at Aldi — this store is owned by the same company that is the home of 2-buck-chuck, Trader Joe’s! So before you immediately write off the drink section, I would recommend you try a bottle or two. In my experience, you get what you pay for and a little bit more. The $3 wines taste maybe like a normal $5 wine. The Bailey’s knockoff isn’t precisely like Bailey’s, but it’s darn close and a great deal for a fraction of the price. But my favorite of all time is available seasonally, and I wish it was offered yearround — Aldi’s sangria! Oh man. I never knew that I would like sangria from a bottle, but this stuff is crazy good. And you get an enormous bottle for like $4. If you see it, you must try it.
What To Buy:
- SANGRIA! (seasonal)
- wines in the $5-10 range
- Bailey’s
What Not To Buy:
I think you get what you pay for with the super inexpensive budget wines — they are definitely hit and miss.
Household Items
For some reason, I held out on this section of Aldi for years, and now I have no idea why. They have some terrific household products at amazing discounts! Especially since I typically get annoyed at having to spend money on these things anyway, it’s awesome to have a more affordable option at Aldi. Two areas that I have not tried are their pet section and the makeup. Would love to have you chime in if you have experience with either of these!
What To Buy:
- disinfectant wipes
- plastic freezer and sandwich bags
- trash bags (they are thin, but they do the job)
- Crest toothpaste
- women’s razors
- pain relievers (ibuprofin, etc.)
- ultra soft & strong toilet paper
- paper towels and napkins
What Not To Buy:
You totally get what you pay for with the super cheap ($1 for 4 rolls) toilet paper. It is super thin and not very soft. But their thick TP is awesome!
My Top 10 Favorite Items At Aldi:
10. edamame
9. roasted red pepper hummus
8. fresh mozzarella balls
7. sangria
6. sea salt pita chips
5. pina colada popsicles
4. artichoke hearts
3. almond milk
2. butter
1. pineapple
Other ALDI 101 Articles:
Love, love, love Aldi! I was previously one of those coupon ladies with two separate binders full of coupons. Three years ago, I discovered Aldi and shop there for everything! I only go to the another grocery store for Heinz and Helmann’s. We like everything there but their mayo!
Great article! I buy their frozen meals for nights when I get home late and don’t feel like cooking from scratch. The Fusia Asian meals are pretty good. Their ham is to die for as well! I shy away from the red meat except for ground beef. I do buy fresh chicken, pork, and pork tenderloin there. They have some great marinaded tenderloin. I also get Parmesan cheese there because it’s a staple in my house along with pasta and sauce. They sometimes have delicious kiwi-mango or strawberry-banana juice in the fridge section for $1. Awesome store for newly weds and new grads (I am both!)
I love their shrimp Lo mein in the frozen section!!! I’ve eaten this for years!! Great proportion, flavor, and price. Christmas I always get a cheese ball or two and thanksgiving I love their sweet potato casserole (It goes quick so stock up! And it’s not as good as our family recipe but its great for week day meals) thanks for the advice on the refrigerated section! I usually shy away from there.
Great post! I love Aldi. I do want to point out, as a fellow coffee snob, that their coffee is actually very decent! It’s shocking, since it comes pre-ground, but it actually has a good flavor for everyday coffee. If you’re looking to save money and also try to get in all your errands in one stop (aka mothers of toddlers), it is a good buy. Of course, I would definitely splurge for the good stuff every now and then, but I gotta say, Aldi’s coffee actually does the trick!
I love Aldi too. One simple reason is because I can get in and out fast. Although I don’t shop there on a regular basis,I do have some favorites. I am completely addicted to their Choceur dark chocolate bars. Out of this world. I also buy canned refried beans the weeks I don’t have a stash of homemade. They have some coffee beans lately too that are really good, I”m thinking they are the same brand as the donut shop ground coffee they have. I like their sweet potato chips and sometimes they have these peanut puffs that are really good. I just love walking around and seeing what they have – this week I stopped in and they had cheese from Ireland so I got some for my husband and he said it was wonderful.
I mainly shop at Aldis, have for at least 30 yrs. They have gluten free rice chex type cereal that I buy for my husband, he is a cereal freak, and I use it for making rice crispy treats, with a recipe that does not use marshmellos or cornsyrup. I think the choices they have are really great and I usually spend about $75-$120 a week depending upon what I need. They other day they had packs of green onions and cilantro, I use those a lot. I was very happy to get them there. It is the best place if you are on a budget or just want to save money.
I’m going to be the first to say this but I do not like the produce at Aldi. A couple of weeks ago we bought a bag of Cuties that were so sour we couldn’t eat them. I was going to return them but they rotted, seemingly overnight, and started attracting bugs. I pitched them. Potatoes sprout and get mushy quickly. Fresh berries don’t last longer than 48 hours.
I do like staples like butter, milk, eggs, baking supplies. Their 12 grain bread is better than Brownberry. I also go there for bagged lettuce, sliced cheese, canned veggies, tortillas, Light & Fit drink mix, plastic garbage bags, zippy bags, specialty cheeses, and the frozen chicken pot pies.
I really like the specialty items they have at Christmas: stollen, baklava, gingerbread cookies. As someone already stated, these are German and EU products and it’s fun to try new and “exotic” things.
I am a crazy couponer and can often find name brands cheaper, but when it comes to basics, Aldi is my go-to grocery!
In the refrigerated items, my family will NOT eat their hot dogs OR bologna. We do however, LOVE their crescent rolls, and buy them weekly.
Friend who works for Fresh Express said that the Aldi ready to eat salads are the exact same thing just in a different bag.
I had never heard of Aldi before we moved to Missouri 2 1/2 years ago. Several people told me about it, and since I love a good deal, I tried it out. I don’t love it as much as some people, but there are certainly things I appreciate about the store.
The produce prices are at the top of the list of things I appreciate. Mostly I buy the produce that is on sale there (and the produce sales are awesome)! They always have the sale produce in stock and I love that! I almost always buy canned mandarin oranges there as they are cheaper there than anywhere else and not an item that frequently goes on sale.
I like that they sell a wide variety of products, but that there is little variety of each item. It makes it easy to tell which is the best deal at their store. :)
Aldi is also very convenient for us-about 5 minutes away. The quality of their products is very good. Many of their items are comparable to the name brands. The one thing we do not like from there is the macaroni and cheese. For months now, our 4-year old has not eaten any macaroni and cheese because he was so turned off by the Aldi brand.
Aldi is not a “stock-up” store for me. Only about 1/3 of the items I regularly buy are cheapest at Aldi when you compare regular prices. I can often get most items cheaper on sale elsewhere. So I stock up at other stores when they have a sale and buy things at Aldi when I run out and need to buy at regular price. Combine the sale prices elsewhere with the 1-2% cash back I get with a credit card and Aldi is not often the best deal.
Our Aldi is always busy and the aisles are narrow. Around the produce gets especially congested. It makes shopping there less than fun, especially since I almost always have kids in tow.
Finally, while the cashiers at Aldi are super fast, I find their customer service overall to be mediocre. They often have the next person’s items mostly rung up before I’m even done paying. Even Costco cashiers take more time to acknowledge your presence and I always thought they were bad. I rarely see employees working in the store so if I have a question while I’m shopping there is no one to ask. By the time I get to the register, it’s not worth it to ask the question and then go back into the store for whatever I need.
I do really like Aldi and I shop there frequently (once every 1-2 weeks). I enjoyed reading your series about it. There were a few things I wasn’t aware of about the store that you brought up. Sounds like I really need to keep an eye out for awesome clearance deals!
Our two area Aldi’s recently went through a redesign and now the aisles are bigger, but I hear you about the produce congestion. We have that as well.
We started shopping at Aldi and our monthly bill dropped by $100. I love the goat cheese, the cheap chips, and the milk prices.
One thing I don’t buy at Aldi is paper towels. The exception is their Boulder ELITE brand. It is Viva paper towels, which is what I use exclusively.
I noticed they started carrying Coke products but not Coke Zero, which is all my husband drinks. So I still have to go to Wal-Mart to buy the Coke Zeros. And Cilantro. But I just bought a Cilantro plant, we will see if it lives.