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:
I love shopping at Aldi. Never knew they were in the states until last year. Unfortunately, the nearest one to me is 5 hour drive away ! Started shopping at Aldi in Denmark, my in-laws live there. It is a great place to find unexpected items and always reasonable prices, even in Europe.
I love their canned chunky soups and their frozen ravioli. Really, I haven’t tried much there that I haven’t enjoyed, quality-wise. From sandwich meat to bread to pastas and snacks, I love their selection! I would warn that the frozen chicken nuggets are definitely lower-quality than other grocery stores, but their frozen breaded chicken patties are great.
Ali,
I have been shopping at Aldi for ten years. I have found many of the same products you have mentioned and love the great prices. I must add the cut flowers by the check-out. I buy them and give them to someone feeling down or just for ME. Very cheap and brighten up your day. Ps. they don’t last long but who cares on a snowy day..
Oh, I forgot to mention – their take-and-bake pizzas! My cousin has a blended family, and on occasion comes over with her 2 children and his 5! With my two kids, and the neighbor’s kid that is always here (he’s a good kid, we love him like another one of our own) that can get pricey if we order delivery. I run down to Aldis and bought 5 HUGE pizzas and only paid $25. Everyone had more than enough to eat (I bought stuff to make salads there too) and the total bill ended up being about $35. Not bad considering we fed 4 adults and 8 children (two of them teens).
Some awesome things I’ve bought that are pretty much the same or better:
Frozen veggies – can’t tell the difference. At our house, we prefer frozen to canned,and I find these comparable to the regular store brand that we buy.
French bread pizza – My husband SWEARS by these on the nights he’s on his own. He says these beat Stouffer’s hands down. More toppings, better sauce.
Popsicles, fudgesicles, sugar-free of the same: My dad is a diabetic, and he loves the SF versions. It’s nice to have the same treat for him and my kids (they don’t eat artificial sugar).
Frozen breakfast sandwiches – again, my husband loves these. I’m not a fan of breakfast, so I’ll take his word for it.
I find the block cheeses are the same quality as the “regular” grocery store.
String cheese – my kids love it.
Produce – the only problem I usually have is the onions. I buy a bag there and they inevitably sprout in the next day or two. But the blueberries and avocados are AWESOME. And I get four cucumbers for the price of one regular store one.
You didn’t mention the fabulous bread! They have amazing multi-grain bread as well.
And as far as drinks – man I wish our store was allowed to sell wine! The root beer is fantastic – it’s called “Sudz.” The cola we found to have a strange aftertaste of…potpourri. Seriously. Orange and lemon-lime were also merely ok.
I love Aldis soooo much! I am living in Switzerland and there is even one here! I havent been yet but I want to check it out. Back in the states I loved their Frozen Turkey Corn Dogs. Soooo yummy! Also the lactose free milk was very good. :)
I’ve lived in Indianapolis my entire life (well, and a 4 year stint in Terre Haute, IN for school) and my family has been shopping at Aldi’s my whole life. My father hardly goes elsewhere for his groceries. He relies heavily on their pre-made or quick make items as he is a senior living alone.
You were absolutely correct that most aldi’s are set up the same. My biggest complain sometimes is that if you forget something at the beginning of the store, it can be hard to get back to it without going against the “traffic” of other shoppers.
When I was living with my father, I had experience with nearly everything the store had to offer…the chips, candies, baking items, cereals, dairy, canned goods, soups, produce, fresh meat, frozen foods, paper products, shampoos, toothpastes, and dog and cat food.
I saw someone comment that the sliced american cheese wasn’t good…they probably got the cheapest version…if you get the “middle of the road” american they offer, it’s awesome.
Last year, the aldi’s near me (I have 3 to choose from within 10 miles of my place) had an amazing deal on milk for about 6 months. I could get a gallon of milk for $1.69. And my husband and I go through a TON of milk (I’m talking 6 gallons for two people A WEEK) it was a GREAT deal that we’ve sorely missed.
Cottage cheese is great…yogurt, sour cream, half and half, eggs. I don’t care for their version of “I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter” I prefer Blue Bonnet.
Most spices are just fine, ketchup, mustard, steak sauce is the same. I don’t care for the mayo, I’m brand loyal to Hellman’s Mayo.
Last year, they had a good price on Arnold Palmer’s half tea half lemonade cans that were great in lunches. We bought those every week. Their lunch meat (ham, turkey, chicken) are comparable to any other pre-bagged lunch meat.
My dad swears by their instant coffee. Drinks it all day, every day. He also swears by their instant iced tea mix, too.
I LOVE their condensed chicken noodle soup. I always have it in the cabinet for sick days. I also really like their mac n cheese, shells n cheese and potatoes au gratin. Their pasta sauces are good and their salsa is great.
We have bought dog and cat food there because we couldn’t get to walmart or sams club, but it isn’t the greatest quality. I only buy my dog rawhide chews made in America, as other countries process the beef hide with formaldehyde! So I steer clear of the dog treats.
Paper plates are inexpensive as are paper towels. Spring for the thicker toilet paper…it’s exactly the same as the wal-mart brand TP.
Produce is usually really great at my stores. Great fruits and veggies and potatoes and onions are a great buy (if you can use them all before they go bad) that’s sometimes hard to do in a household of two.
Love the great prices on bread and buns!
Fresh meat can be hit or miss on prices compared to other store sales. But their pork chops are great.
I LOVE their spiral sliced hams!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the big holidays they usually go on sale and you can get a 10lb ham for $7…after thanksgiving last year, my husband and I bought 7 hams (some spiral, some not) and spent $40…we had over 60lb of ham! We froze them and pull them as wanted. Thaw over night and bake off…perfectly delicious! :)
Their frozen prepared meals are pretty far from HEALTHY….lots of calories and processed “junk” that a lot of people don’t like. Their 4 ounce chicken cordon bleu’s have nearly 500 calories!!! The frozen burritos aren’t much better…tasty, but not exactly healthy. The frozen pizzas compare to the cheap frozen pizzas other places. The ice cream is just as good, too.
As far as cleaning products, can’t beat the price on sponges or the cleaning wipes. Sandwich bags, foil and plastic wrap are just as good and work just as well as any other brand, in my opinion.
Aldi’s is a great place to save some money and I feel the brand has made great strides in the past 10 years, especially, to change its “poor man’s grocery store” image it had. The newly opened stores are bigger, airier, well lit and I feel the staff makes themselves available if needed.
there’s always going to be items that you prefer the taste of or performance of over the aldi brands, but for the price, it’s worth trying to see if you like it…
oh and their light and fit chocolate weight shakes are AMAZING and cheaper tahn anywhere else in price AND has way more nutrience than anywhere else. I had these all the time was i was pregnant and always neasia or couldnt eat. must try also great to supplement your diet because of all the nutrience
I am a HUGE fan of Aldi and do tons of my shopping there. I craved green bean casseroles every day and I mean EVERY day. their knock of french fried onions taste exactly the same and are half the price. ive searched all over for knock offs and these are the only ones that are good. their cream of mushroom soup is about 60% cheaper than anywhere else and is good. there are 2 things I would NOT buy 1-frozen green beans (sometimes thick and hard stringy not always but somtimes) and 2-their knock of Flaming hot cheetos=horrible. everything else i love there
Great article! I love shopping at Aldi, but one warning — never, EVER buy their individually wrapped cheese slices. I don’t have a clue what is in those suckers, but they DO. NOT. MELT. It’s the grossest thing I’ve ever tried.
My favorite products are their Light and Fit hamburger (excellent flavor), fresh country pork ribs, Light and Fit weightloss shakes (in a can) that I sometimes have for breakfast when I’m in a rush (flavor is SO much better than Slim Fast), multi-grain tortilla chips, chocolate hazelnut bars, and marinara sauce.
Also, it’s just plain fun to go see what they have during different seasons/holidays. During Octoberfest they were carrying these frozen Weinerschnitzel patties that were just awesome in flavor and jars of purple cabbage.