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:
My choices in SWMO are Wal-Mart or Aldi. I choose Aldi, and exclusively and it’s working well.
Faves:
Hummus trio (cilantro…yum)
Jarred jalapenos
Winking Owl wines
Moser toffee milk chocolate, orange dark, or chili dark
Parmesan pita chips
Cranberry orange oatmeal packets (seasonal)
Vanilla almond milk
Romaine lettuce trio
Tzatziki sauce (can’t get this anywhere in this region)
Pepper trio (red, yellow, green)
Baby portabello mushrooms
Frozen breast meat chicken nuggets
Bratwurst and smoked sausage
Jarred marinara sauces
Fresh salsas
If I need to bring something to a party, and I don’t have time to make one of Ali’s recipes ;) I go straight to the deli section and grab cheeses, meats, dips, etc. Perfection.
I Just found this post and I told my hubby I will start shopping at Aldi’s again. We have one in the next town over(it’s about a 10 minute drive). I used to shop there when we had our first apartment, but haven’t done much shopping there since. I always liked their take and bake pizzas, we like to get those or parties and cut them into the smaller square pieces. So yummy! I also really enjoy their veggie chips! They taste just like the ones you could pick up at Festival(I believe it is a midwestern/Wisconsin thing)in the organic/natural foods section for almost double the price.
There are a few things I wouldn’t buy there. Like milk for example, I am extremely picky about milk. I will only buy it from few places. (And now I may start buying it organic because they are petitioning to add aspartame to milk as a hidden ingrediant and I am allergic). The other thing I wouldn’t buy is the frozen dinner type meals and the meat. A few weeks back a read an article about how their frozen lasagna and a few other frozen dinner type meals tested positive as horse meat. I’m good. I like my meat to moo, not nay. ;)
We also like to buy food for our son, who has severe heart defects, as organic a possible, so I usually purchase his frozen foods from our other local grocery. He loves chicken nuggets.
But all in all, I am all for saving some money, so I am excited for my grocery tip next week! And I love your post! Especially hearing that they are bringing in more and more organic products. I can’t wait to check that out! <3
I’d just like to point out that I live here in the UK, and it was only our Aldi’s that were affected with horsemeat. They’re not shipping that stuff internationally from Germany to the States, so you have nothing to worry about (and it was just the pre-packaged frozen lasagna and spaghetti bolognese).
I would just like to say that Aldi Baby Nappies (Diapers,I live in England)are the best, far better than named brands and half the price, In England we pay £5 for a pack of 48 Aldi nappies, amazing price. I remembered reading somwhere that Aldi had won awards for them and when my Grandaughter gave birth to her little girl she decided to try them and I can honestly say that the nappies are wonderful,no leaking during he night so far and Lola is 9 now months old,I also have a 18 month old Grandaughter and I buy them for her and my daughter in law prefers them to Pampers, so we stock up well!! Also the make-up, face cream and body lotions are fantastic such good value, There are 3 generations of females in our family and we wouldn’t use anything else
Just browsing food blogs and came across yours. A bit excited,not gonna lie.. I often wonder why my Nana enjoys Aldi, now I have some idea. Will definitely be checking it out now! Thanks for all of your information.. really enjoyed reading this :)
Thanks for these helpful suggestions — now I’ve got a few new things to look for.
One of the things I like about Aldi is that, because it’s a German company, they tend to have imported foods from the EU. E.g., in December, they have German stollen. (However, not everything in Aldi is from the US or the EU, so you still need to read the “Made in…” labels, if origin is important to you.)
One of the things I dislike about Aldi is that you can’t always count on finding the same items each week. Seasonal items, I understand. But my favorite salsa? I use the artichoke heart “salsa” as a bruschetta topping … or rather, I used to.
BTW, I live in a small town in SE Kansas. I usually drive to Pittsburg to go to Aldi’s. We do most of our grocery shopping in KC –Costco, Whole Foods, Hen House, Trader Joe’s, McGongle’s, Cosentino’s, and for splurges Better Cheddar or Dean & Deluca– but for some reason Aldi’s isn’t part of our regular KC circuit. Is there one store in KC that you prefer over others, or are they all about the same?
We got to know Aldi in Belgium and we were so glad when they came to the Washington DC area. We buy the bulk of our groceries at Aldi so our kids grew up on Aldi cereals and some of the kids actually prefer them to name brands. When you are going to feed a crowd, Aldi is a great resource. I like the olives and pickles and the canned tomato products. The olive oil is okay for cooking; look elsewhere for the higher quality for salad dressing. The canned evaporated milk, flour, brown sugar, and white sugar are all good buys. Right now our Aldi has Kefir so we are buying boatloads. And my husband buys me a bouquet of fresh flowers from Aldi two – three times a month!
I am so glad that someone else loves Aldi as much as I do! I’d like to add that we have tried the whole frozen duck and it was great. It was the exact same brand that our “for everything else” grocery store, but seriously $7.00 less. I can also attest to the jarred roasted red pepper and the jarred artichokes. They don’t always have them, so I stock up when they do. And I live on their greek yogurt, the peach is a favor of both mine and my four year old. Highly recommend it!
OH My!! How I LOVE Aldi’s!! We almost exclusively shop only at our local Aldi’s store!! Here are a few of my fav’s. Wine – We are so amazed at Aldi’s Landshut Riesling – AMAZING!! So good in fact we served it our Rehearsal Dinner and everyone loved it!! And at $4.99 a bottle it was a steal!!! Their Brie is fantastic!! I make Brie en Croute with it and you would never know we only paid $2.99 a wheel. I Love their produce – all of it is wonderful good quality!! I have to admit I have tried a few of the frozen items – their broccoli stuffed chicken breast may not be the healthiest option, but I have fixed them for my husband and myself ocassionlly and very much like them and only $1 each. Also, not homemade but a cheap,,quick, and decent meal is the lasagna – really good. Some of the Asia dishes for stir fries are good as well. Also, have purchased shrimp, salmon, tilopia all good quality. Their Kitchen Living items are Great!! I have purchased several of the coated cast iron cook ware costing no more than $30 each and they perform as well as the Le Creuset’s costing much more. I also purchased a mandoline and it slices time and time again perfectly. Hoping this helps!!
Thank you so much for making others aware of them gem we have in Aldi’s!!!
I just bought a bottle of the Riesling last week and was very pleased!
I grew up on Aldi between my mom and the home daycare we went to. I love their produce and most of the time I can get away without having too much since its just me. I love their breakfast sandwiches, especially the Fit&Active. I love their canned soup, I will only eat their clam chowder. Fit&Active cheese sticks are a mainstay in my lunchbox for work. Their boxed baking mixes are police and fireman approved…I use them when I do my monthly gift to my hometown stations. I get almost everything there and what I don’t get their I can get monthly at Aldi’s sister store when I’m in the city on an off day.
The spiral sliced ham is perhaps the best deal ever at Aldi. I believe $2.78 a pound regular price, but at certain times drops to under $2 a pound. Other than Honey Baked is my favorite ham around and price factored in can’t be beat.