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:
thanks for this lovely series on ALDI.
we had three of them open up here in Huntsville and Madison, AL, a couple of years ago.
I was totally psyched because I already had been told by a friend how awesome they can be.
the reality is even better than he led me to believe.
just last night, I paid a visit to the closest Aldi store,
and was delighted to find it had expanded the beer selection to include a couple of craft-type beers.
although I was a bit skeptical of the seemingly-generic India Pale Ale on sale,
I gave it a go (for about $1.00 less than I’d pay for the least-inexpensive IPA at Walmart)
and was quite pleased to find it a pretty decent representative of the style.
(would totally buy again. it was quite nice to drink — JUST MAKE SURE IT’S COLD. cannot stress that enough!
it was kind of — no, VERY — not-so-good when warm.)
it was all the nicer because I’d not enjoyed the other, more pedestrian beers from Aldi nearly as much.
Sure, we’re happy you found it useful! :) Thanks for sharing your experience (we’ll have to try that IPA)!
What you’ve mentioned about Aldi is the complete opposite from my local one. Here, the lines are really slow, the employees are not friendly and I just overall don’t like shopping there. I’ve also noticed that most things are cheaper elsewhere with coupons (or other store brands) thus I’d rather shop at someplace like Walmart or Target because Aldi doesn’t accept coupons and Walmart/Target will also price match if you bring in the Aldi ad. Also, DO NOT BUY THE SPLIT TOP WHEAT BREAD HERE! You really get what you pay for and it’s not that good. Also, it had blue spots appear on two different occasions BEFORE the expiration date had occurred. I’ve noticed at other local retailers (like Cub Foods) it might be a bit more expensive but the bread is fabulous and doesn’t have any blue spots appear even a few days after the expiration date (it just might get a bit harder). I think the main thing to buy at Aldi would be produce and maybe some staples (like sugar or flour). I’ve noticed that the baked chips are only about 1/6 of the bag which really doesn’t save you money and my dad doesn’t like the olive oil because he thinks it has a poor quality. Basically the only things we buy there are produce, bagels, and croissants (at times).
Hey there, thanks for your tips. That’s too bad the Aldi near you is disappointing!
Thanks so much for walking me through my first Aldi’s experience. I had never shopped at one because I was afraid I wouldn’t know what to do since things are so different from other grocery stores! I decided to try shopping there today and sat in the parking lot for quite some time reading your blog in preparation for my visit. I found it by searching for “how to shop at Aldi’s” and was so happy to find just wat I needed to know. Thanks to you, things went pretty smoothly! There was only one awkward moment. It’s actually comical now but I was pretty embarrassed at the time. It involved an unfortunate incident with returning the cart. I had no idea how to do it and ended up creating a line of waiting customers and locking my groceries in the cart! I’ll know next time and there WILL be a next time since I ended up loving the place overall! Thanks again!
Hey Rhonda, I’m so glad you found my guide helpful! And I know what you mean about your cart incident, that whole process is a little confusing at first! : )
I’m back!! :)
I was doing my weekly Aldi run and saw a woman checking out a beverage in a euro style glass bottle. I asked her where she found it and she pointed me to the right aisle. The product was Efferve sparkling lemonade (she had taken the last pink lemonade) and it comes in a reusable euro style glass bottle (so adorable). I had to let it get cold before I tried it and it was so good! Will definitely be a staple from now on.
Oooh, thanks for sharing, Nia! I’ll have to give it a try, especially since I’m a total sucker for some cute packaging. ; )
Just wanted to share my Aldi experience with you! I was really amazed at the quality of the items that I purchased! I live in New Jersey and my local market is grossly overpriced and owned by Albertsons but called Acme. I usually only shop at acme because it’s so conveniently located – around the corner! But with that being said I am delighted at the quality of produce I purchased from Aldi!!! As a single mom of a 6foot 13 year old growing boy and a 9 year old daughter, food is a major part of my monthly budget. We are for the most part healthier eaters. We loved the produce! Especially the gala apples, the blueberries, strawberries, asparagus and the pineapple!!! The Greek yogurt was better than chobani- and had a fresher creamier taste. The granola was wonderful, and butter and soft cheeses were also very high quality. I stocked my pantry with black beans, corn, tomatoes(Spanish and Italian varieties) olives, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatos, olive oil, pastas, and haven’t had one complaint about any of the products! I didn’t purchase any beef – because I’m not a beef lover. But the chicken breast was good and the chicken thighs were very good! The pork chops were amazing and the pork tenderloins were really soooo very good! My children really enjoyed the frozen pizzas and crunchy fish fillets and their prices made it easy for me to really stock up!!! I spent $200, but have enough food for 3 weeks. I usually spend about $400 at my regular market. Lastly, I love that you bag your own groceries in your own bags- wasting less is very important to our family. Our cashier was very polite and courteous! Aldi is my new favorite!!!
Thank you for sharing, Tee! So glad you had such a wonderful experience there! : )
My mom always raved about Aldi’s and when I tried her chicken Parmesan I decided to give it a try because the sauce was so good. I’m so glad there is an Aldi right near me. I completely agree about it not being a one-stop place (for some people), and I usually get about 50% of my groceries there.
My faves:
Eggs!!! Eggs are always cheaper here and recently have gone down from 1.49 to .99- can’t beat it!
I love the cookies and cream ice-cream and coconut bars.
Whipping cream! Way cheaper than buying in a regular grocery store.
Kirkwood chicken breast strips. I prefer chicken breast fresh as the precooked tends to be more salty, but this product is affordable and convenient for salads.
L’oven whole grain wheat bread.
Bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breast! Bought it once and it was heaven! I can’t seem to catch it anymore :(
The list goes on as I have quite a few staples. If you are on a diet especially low-carb Aldi is great because they will have all your meat and veggie staples. But if you cook a lot you will likely need to go to a bigger store for other items for your recipes.
Hey Nia, thanks for all of these great Aldi tips, I love them! : )
Definitely buy the cheddar penguins! They’re like the love child of a chees-it and a goldfish!
Aldi lured me in sir St Parick’s Day with 29¢/head cabbage and I haven’t been the same since. Besides the Penguins, my Aldi wins so far have been:faux all-fruit spread; fit & active protein bars; faux pop tarts; milk; eggs; kale; artisan lettuces; fresh mozzarella; bar cheeses; never any! brand all-natural nitrate-free lunch meats; spices; flour; sugar; yogurt (they even have a flips! knock off); cottage cheese; English muffins; mini bagels; cream cheese- light & regular; frozen pizzas- even the cheapest round one; mushrooms; baby carrots; sweet potatoes; oranges; ground turkey; string cheese; 2% milk American cheese singles; the specialty egg pastas (the bucatini is great); boxed Mac and cheese (we haven’t tried the cheapest one, only the mid-priced that comes in spirals, shells, or elbows); mini peppers- when they have them; potatoes; diet cranberry juice drink; ice cream sandwiches; light Alfredo sauce; fit & active frozen turkey meatballs (must cook in liquid- soup or sauce- easy Italian wedding soup!), fit & active egg substitute, fit & active turkey hotdogs, garlic heads, enchilada kits, rice, diced tomatoes, canned beans.
My only misses so far have been: fresh chicken breast- lots of solution, tastes overprocessed to me; light peaches & cream ice cream- tastes almost boozy- in a bad way (I actually threw this out although I know about the double guarantee, i didn’t want to deal); 3pk designer paper towels- awful! Shred and stick to everything.
Only so-so: fit & active seasoned turkey tenderloin (tendons running through and processed meat tasting), bacon wrapped beef filets, pork chops, onions (they always go bad quickly), tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, sweet potatoes can be iffy, most produce is totally hit or miss.
So the fresh meats & produce, not so much. Snacks, breads, dairy, frozen (except light ice cream!), and canned/jarred/boxed non-perishables get a thumbs up.
I have never thought j would ever go to Aldi I too made fun of it. Renting a cart, bagging your on groceries.. Not for me. However after seeing the ad this week I realized they have an organic section and blueberries are 1.29 that is 2.50 less than what we pay now. I decided to do some research and found this blog and read many of the success stores of Aldi. I will be going there for my first time this weekend!
I love their Simply Nature Multigrain tortilla chips and salsa. The Frosted Flakes and Cocoa Rice are delicious! Of course the produce is fab, but yes it can be over-ripe/under-ripe. That chocolate cake the lady mentioned earlier is completely better than a bakery cake (and I’m so picky about cake). The potatoes o brien are a great breakfast item! The Mama Cozzi pizzas are wonderful. The only 2 things that I’ve tried and hated were the instant mashed potatoes(too grainy) and the mac and cheese!
Thanks for sharing Kristy! So gonna have to try that chocolate cake!
I purchased the Stonehill Seasoning packets for Beef Stew, at the end of the season and loved it so much. I went to all the Aldi’s in the Atlanta area and bought whatever was left, which was not many. I wrote to Aldi’s and unfortunately it was a limited item, and they did not have any more of this item. They believe it will be available in the future (I will buy 3 cases of it!). So my advice is, if you find something you like, buy all you can while available, since some of their items are limited. Thanks.
Thanks for the tip Ina! : D