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! When my hubby and I bought our house 12 years ago, we were right down the street from one. I suggested going there and my hubby was appalled! He was not going into that “ghetto store!” I asked him to go one time and we didn’t have to go back if he didn’t want to. We loaded our cart over the top and spent about $250. This lasted us over 2 weeks and would have been about $500 at the chain grocery store. He was hooked! We get almost all of our stuff there now except for my gluten free stuff (I have celiac). They recently added a temporary gf line and the stuff is better than the other same items I buy at Meijer and obviously much cheaper! I am on a letter writing campaign now for them to keep the gf items and hope they follow in the way the did with the Fit and Active and the natural foods they are starting to carry. I love me some Aldi!!
Molly, I work for aldi and wanted to let you know we are working on getting enough producers to go full steam with our Gluten free line :)
My daughter ahs been able to get the GF foods at ALDI recently. We have been very happy with quality and price. Please encourage them to make this a line of regular products. She too needs for health reasons, not diet.
I loooove Aldi! I started going there a little under a year ago and we have saved so much money! We probably get 90% of our grocery shopping done at Aldi and we have cut our grocery bill almost in half because of it! I love that I can go there and even get “extras” (desserts, etc.) and still have a small bill. The only things I can think of off the top of my head that we haven’t had much success with at Aldi are the ground turkey and one of the options for lunch meat. There is a container that’s a small square and there is a long, skinny container (like Oscar Mayer deli meat style) – I like the long, skinny option, but really do not like the small, square one. The only other things I don’t get at Aldi are shampoo, toilet paper (we love our Cottonelle) and bread. My neighbor introduced me to Aldi and I am so glad she did!
I love Aldi’s. The only thing I ever found I didn’t care for was their own Pecan Sandies. All winter there produce is always cheaper then the other super markets. When they first opened I thought I’m going to have to pay for a cart and then put it back up by the store. It didn’t take long to get used to the cart situation.
Thanks for posting these articles. I am a HUGE fan of Aldi and at 51, have been shopping there for over 30 years. My dad introduced me to it as a teenager, and after that I became a fan. When I was first married (early 80s), my shopping budget was $25-30 a week. So Aldi was just about the only place I could go, spend my budget, fill my cart, and feed my little growing family of 4. 30 years later, I still budget and easily feed my family of 5 (sometimes 6 with the daughter’s boyfriend staying here) on my tight budget of about $400-500 a month. I do hit other stores when they are having meat sales or other sales, but I buy a majority of my items at Aldi.
I have found very few items that I won’t buy, and surprised myself buying some things and realizing how much better than name brand they are. One thing that wasn’t mentioned is the bread/bakery products. Their Oat Bran bread is so tasty and a staple at our house. Great for sandwiches!
You spoke about coffee. We have one of the pod coffee makers (less expensive brand of a Keurig) and I love the pod coffee at Aldi. It compares easily to the WalMart and other brands I’ve tried. I prefer mine lighter, and the Breakfast Blend is perfect.
Not sure how many of you use Velveeta, but I’m sure you’ve seen the prices get crazy for it. We only use Aldi brand and it melts just like Velveeta and tastes great too. We make a hamburger and cheese dip (kind of like Rotel but w/o peppers – I’m allergic) or I make homemade mac and cheese. Either way, it’s perfect for it!
This is the only store I buy my Thanksgiving turkey at. I usually pick up two! And when you can find the hams on sale, they are definitely a buy. And if you are on a budget, buy a couple of the canned hams (around 2.49 or so), chop it up into to chunks, add it to a crock post or heavy pan of pinto beans and it makes up the most fabulous tasting pot of ham and beans. My family can’t get enough of it!
I could say a lot more, but hate to take up all your time. Aldi is a fantastic store to shop at, and today with the prices going up all the time and having to watch our budgets, this is the perfect budget-friendly store. One I can walk out of with a FULL basket (sometimes two!) and barely spend over $100. If you haven’t yet – check it out – you and your billfold will be glad you did :)
We are loyal Aldi shoppers! There are some items that are simply wonderful but then there are a few that definitely subpar. Here is my short list for all of the Illinois shoppers out there!
GREAT-
string cheese
hummus
honey goat cheese
Lit and Fit turkey lunchmeat
milk
Honey Wheat bread
sweet potato chips
baby wipes
100% apple juice
coconut shrimp
cat litter
vanilla almond cereal
butter
breakfast sausage links
NOT GREAT-
cream of mushroom soups
mac n cheese
bacon wrapped filet
dishwasher soap
Winking Owl wine (used to be on the great list but has been causing serious headaches and stained teeth!)
bargain soda
bargain lunchables
As you can see, the good stuff out weighs the bad so there will always be a space in my heart for Aldi!
It’s funny what tastes different to people! WE LOVE LOVE LOVE the bacon wrapped filets and I have no complaints about the soups-although I only use them in recipes, never just eat them. I agree about the dishwasher soap-not good. I don’t particularly love the fabric softener either.
It’s interesting that you mention the wine causing issues. Our stores don’t carry wine (MD) but my sister (MI) always bought the winking owl wine and has recently had major problems with hives/headaches after drinking it. Hmmmmm
A few things I love at Aldi:
Steamable veggies (broccoli florets and corn)
Fresh mozzarella balls
Milk chocolate chips
Chicken tenders (fresh)
Frozen pizzas-we haven’t tried any we didn’t like and my kids actually prefer the Aldi brand over others.
Coconut granola cereal
String cheese
Bread and rolls (they are recently making a large round loaf-can’t remember exact name) and it is TO DIE FOR
Cream cheese danish is THE BEST I’ve ever had!
Like many others, we don’t care for the “knock off” cereals or the semi-sweet chocolate chips.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Aldi!
Very surprised to read the comments on here regarding Aldi’s dry cat food. My cat honestly can’t get enough of the stuff and basically won’t eat any other brand now! At $6 for a bag that would cost me $14 elsewhere, I’m not mad about it.
“Again, to use chips as an example, often their bags are only about half full.”
I don’t understand this line because they sell these items by WEIGHT and the air in the bags helps keep the stuff from being crushed.
We love ALDI! Re: the coffee — we have switched completely to ALDI Fair Trade dark roast. We had been using Gevalia or Starbucks, but it is just as good and less than half the price. And organic! We are pretty picky about coffee, too.
One exception to our success with ALDI products — our cats totally rejected ALDI dry cat food — even the ferals we feed wouldn’t eat the stuff. They will eat the canned pet tuna, though.
Love the butter, the lactose-free milk, the specialty cheeses, the veggies, the canned stuff, the low sodium chicken broth, and the hamburger is great. We don’t use processed foods either, so couldn’t say about those. I didn’t have a problem with the chili powder, but I beef it up with extra garlic, oregano and cumin anyhow, and have never tried it all by itself. The other herbs are just fine.
I tried the jarred spaghetti sauce and found it a little sweet for my taste. I prefer to make my own. ALDI crushed tomatoes are fabulous for that — loaded with flavor.
I like ALDI mushrooms. You have to know how to buy them. if they are not firm, or if they are bloomed out or the stems are slightly shrunken away from the base, don’t buy them. All mushrooms are dirty when you buy them. The ones at our ALDI are from the Monterey mushroom plant in California, and I lived a few miles from that for years. It is absolutely the best quality.
I came across your blog whilst googling Aldi baby food reviews…. I’m from Australia and soon realized you must be American by the different products you were talking about, but so many the same! I am a major Alsi advocate! We even have a bakery section at one of the local stores here, hot bread straight out of the oven YUM! I agree about the butter too, I always stock up on the unsalted butter. The Tandil dish wash is great and so is the powdered bleach in the purple container. The baby products are fantastic…. We use the wipes and baby formula which has been really good.
We have a great meat selection here, mostly grass fed options. The diary section here is also good. Just last Christmas they started there black label selections range which is a little more pricey but so worth it, the Christmas cake in the tin is Devine!
Anyway….thanks for the good read!
Aldi opened a store in my town right by my house about a year ago, and I was thrilled to try it out. With very few exceptions I have been totally impressed with the quality, especially in view of the low prices.
You asked about pet food, and that’s one of those exceptions. In spite of my most determined efforts, my cat just refuses to like their food! Ungrateful animal. Oh well, I have to go to Target or Kroger anyway for other things.