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 just got some black truffle potato chips at aldis last week and they were a big hit !
Thank you,. I went there today and was overwhelmed and this is really helpful.
You’re welcome, we’re glad this was helpful to you! :)
It might be time to do another Aldi round! They have added ALOT of organic items to their store!
Love so many of the food items The Specially Selected Caramel corn and nut mix os sooooooo delicious I can’t believe it..Love the raspberry vinaigrette so much I want to drink it!!! The organic salsa is wonderful and the crackers and cheeses…great rye bread..fantastic chicken salad …oh too many to list..The cookies and chocolate are top notch delicious and so is the ice cream……The butter pound cake is the best I’ve ever had from a store ..Do NOT like the canned soups or the ketchup but the mayo is great….NOT on the Cheerios but 2 $ real vanilla?? wow….Won’t buy the jarred peaches from China anymore..but they did taste fantastic..Garlic is from China too..no more….No on the ground beef..yes on the chicken and pork..NO on Momma Cozi pizza but love the Simply Nature frozen pizza…
BUT the thing I haven’t read is how great the NON food items are. Fantastic quality and prices!!…No like WAY!!!!!!!! The frying pans and the bath things and all of them I’ve tried are SO inexpensive and really really good quality…………Thanks Aldis!
Thanks for sharing all of this Kristy, good to know! :)
Our family loves Aldi and I’m on board with almost all of your post. I’ll add that in the frozen section, stuff that can’t be screwed up is good, but more complex items are meh. Example: the Potatoes O’Brien are amazing, hot pockets and frozen pizza they can keep. I almost exclusively buy from the seasonal frozen case though. I hear the take and bake pizza is remarkably better than Papa Murphy’s and some delivery places, but I have yet to try it.
Then there is, the coffee. I have tried several varieties. I was a Gevalia snob until: 1) they discontinued Stockholm Roast, and 2) we had kids. Well, the Specially selected vacuum packed coffee is delightful. The red label one (a medium roast, regular) is the closest I have found to Gevalia Stockholm, and it is cheaper per ounce than Community coffee from Sam’s Club. The Barissimo varieties are also very good. I particularly like the Peruvian single origin (fair trade) and the medium roast fair trade, and at less than $4 for 12 oz of fair trade, it can’t be beat.
One more bit to add: their juice is also very good. We buy the cran-grape and high pulp orange all the time. Also cheaper than Sam’s and Kroger. Also, it just so happens that in north Texas, WinCo foods has moved into the market, and Aldi is in a price war with them. So Milk is $0.99, eggs are $0.79, and butter is $1.99.
Thanks for sharing with us Tommy! :)
Yes I love ALDI. Mostly great quality, good deals. I would just comment on the author’s suggestion to buy Tilapia. I think many people know, and am surprised the author is unaware, that Tilapia is allegedly a VERY undesirable fish to be avoided. Why? Because they are “farm raised” in Asia in vats of their own feces and urine. That’s what they eat and swim in all day. So….that’s what WE are eating.
And beware the packaging will try to fool you into thinking it’s from the U.S. Unless it’s changed in teh past year 95% of it comes from Asia. The packaging may read “Manufactured in U.S.” but if you read more closely down farther it will read “Product of China” or whatever.
You can research it but that’s the gist of it and I’ve read time and time again to avoid Tilapia. Though yes it tastes great, it’s nasty stuff.
Thanks for sharing Madeline!
I love Aldi, but can’t do all of my grocery shopping there. The prices on produce (I live in Nebraska) especially when in season are outrageously less expensive than competitors like Hy Vee, Spartan Nash stores, Kroger, Target and even Walmart. I just bought 2 lbs of grapes for only $1.88 and usually I pay more than that for just 1 pound.
Some of my favorites:
-All of the produce. Especially berries – so cheap. Brussels sprouts, potatoes, green beans, cherry tomatoes, oranges.
-Wine! Bought a great bottle of prosecco for about $5.
-Baking goods like baking soda, flour, sugar, baking chocolate.
-Nuts, dried fruit and trail mixes – all are great, but I love the dry roasted peanuts. Not a lot of added sugar and taste great.
-ALL dairy. I always stock up on butter.
-Sparkling lemonade that comes in a cute glass bottle. Have found a nearly identical product at Trader Joe’s, with a different label.
-Bathroom items like pain relievers, soaps, face creams. They have some name brand products for good prices.
-CANDY! You cannot beat the prices here. My favorite Haribo brand gummy bears are just 85 cents at Aldi and $1.50 everywhere else.
I love Aldi!! It is a different experience but always a good one.
Thanks for sharing with us, Paige!
We shop at Aldi for most all of our pantry items. My husband is pretty picky but he likes the chicken an dumplings in the can and if you like corn beef hash that is another good buy. We are happy with all the canned goods veggies , fruit , tomato’s , beans .. My husband did not like there milk or cottage cheese he said it has a sour taste to it .. I didn’t notice this so you will have to see for yourself. The butter and eggs are a Great Buy. The Jumbo Shrimp is an Excellent buy and they taste really good. i buy Asparagus from the frozen section , we don’t care for canned its too mushy . Our Aldi store now has Coconut Oil and that is a very good buy. I like to buy the pepper and sea salt grinders in the spice section , they also have mixed selection like garlic and sea salt which i purchased today . We like the cinnamon rolls , English muffins and i got the sliced lemon cake .. very good ..there cheese selection is great .. its a very good store . Some one above mentioned how the employee’s are happy and that is true in our store to . They are friendly and seem to know right where every thing is if you can’t find what you need. I’m a lot happier giving my hard earned money to Aldi’s then spending it at WalMart . Well i won’t go on a rant about them but i think a lot of you know what i mean . So Great Article and thanks for all your wonderful advice .
Thanks so much for sharing Kim, and we’re glad you found this helpful! :)
I used to not shop at aldis. There are still some I don’t like. Luckily I really like the one on my town. One item I was unsatisfied with was their canned black olives. In my opinions they were much softer than name brand and I prefer the olive that held its shape as I sliced it and not broke into pieces. I find the lunch meat that is in the clear reusable containers of a little better quality than the plastic rezip ones. Although the deli meat still isn’t great, however I much prefer the real sliced meat over the meat that looks formed into a circle and sliced. I recently found smoked salmon at aldi that seems to be seasonal. This is great though because it is a nice size for a couple meals or snacks for 1 person at a good price. Their cheez it type crackers I find are closer to cheez its than the cheese nips sold at other stores which makes me happy.
Processed food contains too much SALT and SUGAR. There are no options of NO or LOW SALT/SUGAR PRODUCTS.