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 ALWAYS start at Aldi. I have to admit that it took me about 3 times before I was brave enough to buy anything but the essentials since you don’t know the names of most of the brands (they have a few well known brands) but once I dug in and started trying different products I was AMAZED. I have found their brands to be as good and in some cases better than the well known brands we all know. There are certainly exceptions but you’ll have to try for yourself. Nothing has been abhorrent but, for instance, I don’t care for many of the frozen Mama Cozzi’s frozen pizzas and I don’t like their butter for baking (but it’s fine for cooking and slathering on toast). I’ve been shopping here now for 4-5 years and I have been trying to get more family and friends to try it. Even when I tell them that they can save 40-50% off their grocery bill, they are still hesitant. I’m a gourmand and love to cook and bake (I have a baking degree) and they know that I have a higher standard. Why they won’t bite the bullet, I just don’t know but that’s their loss and it leaves the stores less crowded for the rest of us who have discovered the delights and simplicity of shopping here. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the influx of organic and more natural products and I love trying the different things that pop up on the shelves each week. I have a great time trying all the artisanal cheeses-particularly at the holidays and the hummus is always on my list. One product I wish they hadn’t changed is the shredded parmesan but I’ve sucked it up and buy the one they offer now though I’m still not happy about it. If you check out the labels you will find that MANY of the Aldi products have less and more natural ingredients- but, of course, it varies. I’m not crazy about their pasta sauces and their most prolific ice cream brand but the Specially Selected brand chocolate and vanilla are good. I tried one gelato and it was super sweet and not that great so I haven’t tried any others. Their fruit bars are good with natural flavors and chunks of fruit. I always buy the unsweetened original almond milk and their yogurts are good as well. I love the pita chips-they go with everything. I stay away from the coffee-I’m too particular to drink these. The meats are…OK but I haven’t been crazy about everything. I like the Naan and their higher quality tp is really good and about half the price. Try the sandwich and storage bags-nothing wrong with those. I’ve tried some of their candy and some is fine. Their chocolates I’ve tried do seem to be more of a European style. I’ve sampled many wines and they are decent drinking wine though nothing special that you’d want to serve your in-the-know wine buddies. They do have a big bottle of cabernet that I buy for about $6 that I use to make a killer sangria. The cereals have been hit and miss but they are mostly fine as are granola bars and the fit & active salad dressings. You won’t find much difference in the condiments and I buy a bag of the powdered sugar almost every time I go (cookie baking season is almost here). I don’t generally buy the flour and sugar as I like cane sugar (Domino’s) and an unbleached flour but I’ve used them in a pinch and they are fine for general purposes. I like the brown rice pasta and the whole wheat and regular for that matter-I don’t find a big difference in those. My friend swears by the seasonal frozen mussels. The frozen whole fruits are a good buy. I buy as much organic as I can so I always look for organic produce but will also buy non-organic if I’m there and I need something. You can find killer deals when the produce is in season-just check it. One of the things I love is that this is a small, easily navigable store and that makes me happy. I just don’t enjoy the huge stores and if I can get it at Aldi-I do. Don’t be afraid-JUST GIVE IT A TRY. There’s a great return policy so what do you have to loose?
This series on Aldi’s is fantastic!!! I’m linking an article on my blog to your articles- I really do think Aldi’s should come with an ‘Intro to Aldi’ handout when you walk in. Also- the Aldi in our area has been carrying tons of gluten free and organic items lately! Thanks again!
Thanks Sarah, we’re glad you enjoyed this! :)
I never thought I would be an Aldi shopper, and I only went in the first time because someone told me they had a special but on grass-fed ground beef. Now I’m a devoted shopper. Probably about 1/3 of my groceries come from there, but only because I do a lot of shopping w/ a local farm, Costco, and my Azure Standard co-op. Some of my Aldi favorites:
-Almond & Cashew butters
-organic ketchup
-Never Any brand deli ham and uncured bacon
-“clean 15” fruits and veggies – always pick up pineapple, kiwi, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, red onions, bananas.
-Lifeway Kefir, because it’s the best price I’ve found.
-Deli sliced cheeses
-Different specialty cheeses always find their way into my basket too.
-Gluten free pasta, bread, and wraps
-Organic tomato basil pasta sauce
-Jumbo shrimp
-frozen flounder
-Paper towel – white
-Sandwich, storage, freezer bags
-Chocolate bars (the pack of 5 smaller ones – dark & milk are both the best!)
-Chocolate chips – cleaner list of ingredients than any national brand!
Great list Becky, thank you for sharing this with us!
Frozen green beans are AWESOME!!!
Thanks for sharing with us Peggy, that’s good to know! :)
Oops–forgot one thing. Never bought meat there–probably paranoid since the recall a few years back. Generally don’t like pre-packed meat like that, though, once up north, there were 3-ounce filet steaks wrapped in bacon for like $1.79 each. Not super-tender, but better than what one would expect for a higher price. And, I got my salad-spinner (a really good one) there for under $6!!!
I agree with most of your advice here–i shopped at ALDI when I lived up north and I shop there here in SC. They have raw sugar here–for the same price as the supers have white sugar, and they also have organic coconut oil and it is VERY reasonable–less than I have seen it elsewhere. What I don’t understand about your lists are: if you only buy organic meats, how do you rationalize bacon? Also, I don’t believe I’ve EVER seen jarred marinara (or any other jarred sauce) there that did not have loads of crap in it. Wait, I may be wrong–there might have been some with extra-virgin olive oil, real parm/romano and no sugar, now that I think of it. No disrespect intended here–just questioning. Love, love, LOVE their roasted garlic hummus–but have started making my own since we eat so much of it. Yes, there are things I plan to buy at ALDI just like there are other things only bought at other stores. All in all, I was so psyched to see a local one here. The produce is often second to none–and, I have seen organic bananas at least once in a while. Also, the clementines are SO much less expensive there. We go through bags and bags!!! Thanks for your site!!
I love Aldi but don’t buy the ground beef! It had a funny texture like it was mixed with filler or sawdust and it tasted awful! Other than that most of their products are very good.
I love to buy pet food for my dog here. I have tried the canned dog food but I usually buy the snacks. The milk bones are half the price of Kroger and they are made in the USA. The Dental stick chews are much less and my dog loves them, they are now made in Ireland. They have large bags of their brand of “Pupperoni” and “Bacon Strips” but at HALF the price and they are made in the US. My dog is large so this really saves money.
My favorites are also the Fresh Mozzerela balls, the jarred spaghetti sauce, which is much better than Prego and the others for only 0.99!. We love the canned Corned Beef Hash and save about $1.00 a can. It is not as salty as Hormel. The Turkey Breakfast sausages, I am sure they are made by Banquet as I compared the packages side by side and they are exactly the same, ingredients and nutrition wise. Their mild is not stated to be organic however it does state that the milk is free of hormones and antibiotics! Comparing the same organic, antibiotic free milks at Kroger it is a substantial savings. The spices are great prices but I also dislike the chili spice, not good at all. I also get Pineapples and watermelon in season here…much cheaper and excellent!
Thanks for sharing Donna!
Hi,
read all three pages, well done. Aldi came here to BG [OH] in 2007 and I lived close by so I went. It took a bit of time for them to get settled in and squared away, but I prefer them to Walmart/Kroger/etc as the prices are much better for an old tightwad bargain-hunter like me! I have an old-time butcher shop, a big lots, Aldi and a walmart within a mile, so everything’s covered. My Aldi faves–Frosted shredded wheat, the sourdough bread-$3/24oz loaf but worth it, dairy, meats [even better marked down] and as for wilted produce, you have to watch for that everywhere, it’s universal! Most of it is always good. And no, they don’t carry everything, if you want a left-handed turkey baster, go elsewhere. They carry one selection per item, not fifteen varieties of ketchup. That’s way they keep prices low! If you can get past that, you’ve got it made! And I’ve had two problems in 8 years and they were both resolved to my satisfaction instantly. I love Aldi’s, if you’ve never gone, give it a go. You won’t be disappointed.
Thanks Mike, and thanks for sharing your faves! :)
i shop very frequently at aldi. uptown chicago facing new target …they have good stuff at good prices..employees are very nice people..but i noticed an old security guy with glasses, whenever i go shopping he,s standing talking to ladies ,i said ladies for hours is that his job ..sometimes when theey finish talking he folowed ladies staring at their butts ..check this out or ask ..once he was running after an old man who stole sothing maybe but he couldn,t catch him…
Thanks for sharing Joe, not cool about that security guard though, yikes!