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 ALDI!
I have shopped @ Aldi for years.
I think their Old Fashioned Oatmeal, semi-sweet. Chocolate chips, pizzelles, and stuffed salmon (seasonal) are my go to items. Their produce is unbeatable for price and quality. Also, their people are like their products= Always the Best!
My mom and I just shopped at ALDI today. We are regular shoppers too. We also always supplement with another grocery, but noticed ALDI is adding more products each week! This trip we tried the K-cups for our Keurig coffee machine which are fabulous! Also, the refrigerated pizza is great! It is $4.99 ! There are several varieties and the quality is great!! Produce cannot be beat!!
I stumbled across your Aldi series and blog while searching for a recipe.
I have to say, my wife and I have been doing the “Aldi first, then secondary grocery store afterwards” for decades now. We used to have to drive two towns over to get to an Aldi, but about eight years ago they began springing up closer to home.
You’re right on the money, they are designed for staples and do NOT carry everything. Our closest store is very clean, the people super friendly and fast, and we’re recognized as “regulars” since we shop there so often. We hit them first before finishing up at a Meijer or Kroger. The cost savings is great, and we’ve found items there that are cheaper and taste way better than the national brands. We are customers for life.
I love Aldi! All Memphis stores are clean with very efficient and friendly staff. My favorite items: Aldi brand “Triscuits”, frozen green beans, blackberries, mini peppers, avocados, specialty cheeses such as Havarti, hummus, turkey bacon, mini-croissants, nuts, women’s razors, and paper plates. I even bought my daughter’s pink glow-in-the dark soccer ball there!
So yesterday I excitedly took my first trip to Aldis. Thanks to your posts I had my quarter, my bags and cash. The first thing I noticed was how dirty the store was. Not cluttered, but dirty. Secondly I had to search for prices. Some were above, some were below-which is great. However some were blocked with boxes and some were nonexistent. Prices were really comparable to my local Reasors. I did get cake mix for 18 cents less and chocolate chips for about a dollar less. I was looking forward to stocking up on produce. Not only were the prices not better, but the quality was awful. I reached for an eggplant and they were so over ripe that my hand sunk into mush. The avocados were 49 cents which is ten cents cheaper than Reasors, but they were tiny little rocks. Meat looked good but I had no ice chest and was honestly afraid to try it given the dirty conditions. I don’t anticipate going back.
I find that different Aldi’s have different levels of cleanliness. If I were you, I would try a different one and see if they are any better. Like you, I went into a “bad” one and wrote off Aldi’s as not for me. But last week a friend convinced me to go into a different one and it was a completely different experience. The store was clean, everything well marked, fresh produce and friendly staff. Not all locations are alike, I guess.
When this is the case, please say something to the manager about the store condition. Also, follow up by writing them via Facebook or their website. Be vocal..But be polite and kind even as you are factual. Things DO turn around.
We just opened up a new Aldi here in Des Moines a couple months ago and they have an awesome produce section and a great smart and fit line. I also was hesitant to buy their milk as I’ve been an AE milk guy my whole life. I got their 1% and it really taste just like AE and I would be the first to tell you it didn’t . Great way to save a ton of money.
I live in Denmark and Aldi seems to be WAY more popular than in the US, judging by your posts.
I’ve never experienced an unclean Aldi store, EVER. Buying your own bag and packing it yourself? Standard practice in every single store here, Aldi or not. “Paying” for a cart? Standard practice as well. You must be very spoiled over there ;)
I love pretty much everything from Aldi but especially their toilet paper is cheap AND awesome :D And garlic bread. And diapers!
We are pretty much spoiled for choice especially where *I* live, with a Trader Joe’s and a Wegmans closer than Aldi. I shop at a farmstand for fruits and veggies. Having said that, there are a lot of things I always buy at Aldi: butter, milk, 1/2&1/2, crackers, Choceur milk chocolate & hazelnut bars, corn flakes, frozen and bake-at-home pizza, guacamole, dish detergent, chips, canned tuna, hot dogs/sausage, and condiments. Their specials are almost always worth getting as well; their recliners are as good as name brands and at half the price!
Having said that, there are a lot of things I would NEVER buy (again) at Aldi: seafood, bag bread, paper goods, olives, canned soups, ice cream products.
Wegmans has better quality stuff mostly, and actually beats Aldi price-wise on (FAR superior) frozen fish and block cheese. Their bulk salsa also works out cheaper and is at least as good. Wegmans’ store-brand cereals are also better and at the same price or cheaper.
It’s worth saying that Aldi tends not to have bulk stuff like white vinegar or bulk paper goods that wind up being cheaper AND better quality somewhere like Wegmans (or ShopRite.) And apart from the chicken tenders, I’d buy my meat elsewhere.
Wow. That was gross. I am young but disabled and single, so I’m on a fixed income. This blog entry inspired me to go to Aldi. Big mistake. Gross gross gross. And I HAD to eat it cuz I’m on a weekly grocery budget. Subpar. Looks good from far but far from good, just yucky, like clothes from Deb. Makes me not wanna try other stuff on this blog, sorry!
They double your money back. Why didn’t you return your purchases?
Well if he ate it, he’s not going to be returning it! But there are definitely things NOT to buy at Aldi. Having said that, I’d love to know specifically which things this guy got that were subpar?
So many awesome things to choose from … In no particular order – the string cheese (happy farms), the honey wheat pretzels, Dino’s and Shark’s fruit snacks, every single Clancy Brand chip, Savoritz cheese baked crackers – better than cheese nips or cheez-its, all Bakers Choice items, sugar free popsicles, strawberries, biscuits, bottled water, cashes, almonds, Kids Krunch tastes exactly like Cap’n Crunch!!! Fit & Active protein bars – especial double chocolate and Carmel and Choc. Fit & Active yogurts delicious too. L’Oven Fresh bread. Funny name – pretty good bread! Willow tissues. And boulder paper plates (get the better ones – still less than half the cost of name brands).
What not to buy – Summit GT Cola! Funny label “Performance driven energy” or “For taste and fun!” Ha ha ha …
Lunch Nate lunch meats not so good either.
Great posts ! Very entertaining and informative ! You should spell your name Al(d)i from now on!!!
Great post. I would like to add that Aldi’s block cheeses are, in my experience, exactly like the other grocery stores, at a steep discount. It is so expensive in other stores. I am a “block cheese” snob. I never buy bagged pre-shredded cheese (it is horrid). I always buy block, then grate it into a gallon ziploc bag, and freeze it until needed.
Other items I save HUGE on are fruit cups for the kids’ lunches, and most recently, the applesauce squeeze pouches.
The garlic chive pita chips are a favorite of mine. Our Aldi also recently started carrying Aldi’s label of Terra root vegetable chips.
The one thing I have been consistently disappointed in (at all 3 of my local Aldis) and don’t buy there anymore are the bananas. I don’t know if it’s because they are bagged, but they almost always have significant brown spots inside. The other produce is fantastic though.