Want to cut your grocery bill in HALF without clipping coupons? Shopping at ALDI is a great way to save. Here’s the best ALDI deals and what to avoid.
There’s a budget grocery phenomenon that’s slowly been taking over the United States, doubling its number of stores over the last decade. ALDI! But ALDI isn’t a new store at all—for over 100 years, ALDI stores have long committed to providing low-priced groceries. I nearly fell off my chair when I found out they were that old—but it’s true, ALDI was founded in 1913 in Germany and came to the U.S. in 1976.
What Sets ALDI Apart?
Shopping at ALDI is a unique experience. It certainly isn’t your big, coupon-friendly, buy-everything-on-your-list grocery store. Some of ALDI’s quirks (like needing a quarter to rent your cart) may be intimidating to a first-time shopper. But, once you’re in the door and see all the ALDI deals, you’ll be convinced!
The first of several great—really great—things about ALDI is their Twice as Nice Guarantee. On some of their products, if you end up not liking it, or it didn’t meet your expectations, take the package, any unused portion of the product and your receipt of purchase back to ALDI and they’ll issue a refund AND a replacement. Another bonus? ALDI recently announced they’ve removed several artificial ingredients from their exclusive brand products. If you’re concerned about partially hydrogenated oils, synthetic colors and added MSG, this should come as great news. They also launched their own non-GMO and organic products as of late and they are just as good as any other name brands.
ALDI takes an innovative, low-overhead approach to business that allows them to offer big savings to their customers. You won’t see a lot of employees straightening up the aisles, bagging your groceries, and stocking shelves. Many items are brought to the floor on pallets to allow for quick restocking and rotation. Big yellow signs above the pallets and on the shelves list the prices. If you’re curious what the store looks like, ALDI offers a virtual tour on their website.
You may also notice most of the stores are much smaller than an average grocery store but follow a similar layout; this makes them easier to maintain. Their advertising is minimal, so they only issue their ALDI flyer two weeks before sales, but it’s a great planning tool for your trip. Use the ALDI App to download ads, make a shopping list, and find the nearest store. ALDI is now a part of many online grocery store delivery businesses so be sure to check them out if it’s something your family does.
What to Know Before You Go
Remember what I said about bringing a quarter for a cart? Well, their cart rental system is another way they keep a low overhead. It requires a quarter “deposit” when you take your cart out of the line. Simply put your quarter in the slot and the cart will release. When you’re finished, return your cart and you’ll get your quarter back. This way, the store saves on employees’ time retrieving carts from the parking lot.
ALDI accepts most major credit cards as well as EBT, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Because the majority of their products are ALDI-exclusive brands or special manufacturers deals, they don’t accept coupons. Bring your rock bottom price list with you when you go, so you can be sure you’re truly getting the best deal. ALDI exclusive brands are where you’ll usually find the best bargains. Purchases on toiletries and brand-name items are often cheaper in a traditional store with a coupon, although sometimes ALDI will negotiate a special offer on name-brand products.
One more thing—when you see the checkout lines, don’t despair! A lot of the time, lines look long and congested, but here’s yet another way ALDI is different. Their products are bar coded in several places, which means cashiers can quickly zap your products through. It’s a sight to see—they’re super-fast!
Be prepared to bag your own groceries. If you’d rather not pay for paper bags or their reusable bags at the counter, plan on taking your own. After you check out, there’s an area beyond the registers where people get their items together and pack them up for the journey home. This front end is another area that can appear congested as people bag and box their own groceries, but it moves quickly!
So, with all these quirks—is the shopping experience a trip worth making? If you’re looking at your bottom line—yes. Groceries at ALDI are undeniably cheaper. Not every single item, of course, but if you do a little planning ahead and make wise choices, you can save yourself a bundle! Once you see the prices, I promise you’ll be hooked!
15 Things to Buy at ALDI
1. Fresh Meat Specials
While I’m not a big meat eater, my family does enjoy meat meals from time to time. Each Wednesday, ALDI offers a special “Fresh Meat Special Buy.” Some weeks it’s brisket, some weeks it’s boneless pork chops ($2.99 a pound!!), but usually, it’s top cuts of meat at really low prices. These are great choices for planning freezer meals and doing your weekly meal planning.
A word to the wise—these ALDI meat specials go FAST. Prepare to make the trip on Wednesday because the cuts often come in limited amounts and once the specials are gone, they’re gone.
2. Canned Broth
ALDI’s Chef’s Cupboard (regular) or Fit & Active (low sodium) cans of broth are between $.49 and $.99 a can; these may be one of the best ALDI deals out there! They offer a veggie broth in their SimplyNature organic line and comparable products are nearly double the price.
Their canned broths are also flavorful and a great pantry staple to keep on hand. I often stock up on several cans when I’m there.
3. Almond Milk
Depending on where you shop and whether you have coupons, regular milk can be found for a little cheaper at other grocery stores. Though ALDI’s regular milk is priced pretty darn well, their Friendly Farms Almond milk is often at $2.49 or less, which is a great buy. It can be over a dollar more at many other stores. They also offer SimplyNature Organic Soy milk for a similar price and occasionally they carry coconut milk as well.
4. Yogurt
ALDI offers many varieties of yogurt and dairy products. The Friendly Farms Moo Tubes are their brand take on the popular yogurt-in-a-tube kids’ snack. They even carry kefir; a drinkable yogurt. The regular snack-sized Friendly Farms line of Lite Greek yogurts are around $.65 each and come in fun flavors like Strawberry Cheesecake and Caramel Macchiato. They’re creamy and don’t have a fake aftertaste like some flavored yogurts.
5. String Cheese
Great for kids’ lunches or a little protein kick in the middle of the day, a Fit & Active low-fat string cheese pack comes in 12-stick packs for around $2.69. Their cheese selection is worth checking out, particularly the soft or specialty cheeses they offer around the holidays. Their brick cheese tends to be a little pricier and the typical shredded cheeses have received mixed reviews online. Their specialty cheeses like Gouda and Havarti are definitely worth a try. I haven’t tried it personally, but they add cornstarch to keep it from caking, which apparently can also cause it to burn easily.
6. Red Hot Deals (in the center of the store)
Each week ALDI offers a “Red Hot Deal” theme in the center of the store. If the theme is picnicking, you might find grilling utensils, paper plates and coolers paired with chips, buns, and condiments. Another week it might be a back-to-school theme with school supplies, lunch-boxes, and easy, fun snack foods.
Whatever the weekly ALDI deals theme, it’s worth paying attention to. Very good deals on outdoor items, tailgating supplies, and other fun household buys are often found in this area of the store. Use the ad cycle that comes out two weeks in advance to discover if any of the Red Hot Deals fulfill your family needs, and plan accordingly.
7. Organics
In the last few years, ALDI started to offer a wider selection of USDA Certified Organic and non-GMO items. If you’re looking for organic options, keep an eye out for their SimplyNature brand foods. Popular items include lettuce, spinach, baby foods, snacks, frozen berries, milk, and grass-fed beef. These items are free of additives, and they come with much lower prices than a health food store or Whole Foods. They also offer a line of plant-based products called Earth Grown. Their antibiotic and hormone-free meat is sold under the Never Any! brand.
Their SimplyNature Fruit Squeezies and Organic Fruit Snacks are lunchbox favorites and they’re made without artificial sweeteners or preservatives. At around $2.50 a box, they’re a great way to send your kids to school with something you can feel good about.
8. Gluten-Free Items
The liveGfree brand is yet another of the ALDI deals that’s worth checking out, especially if you’re watching gluten or have someone with gluten sensitivity in your household. Their Southwest Veggie stuffed sandwich is an easy grab-and-go lunch item at under $3 for two—a full $2 cheaper than similar gluten-free products at the grocery store.
They also offer gluten-free crackers, bread, tortillas, cookies, pretzels, and baking mixes. At under $3 per box, it’s worth it to stock up on quite a few of these gluten-free goodies just to have them on hand. Even if no one in your house is gluten-sensitive, it can be handy to have something to offer guests with dietary restrictions.
9. Salad Dressing
ALDI’s Specially Selected brand offers several gourmet food options at prices that beat the non-gourmet version at other stores. They have salsa, cookies, and my favorite—salad dressings. They offer several vinaigrette options (the raspberry is to die for!) with restaurant-quality taste. You’d pay much higher prices for these dressings in the refrigerator section of your grocery store.
10. Frozen Jumbo Shrimp & Seafood
Frozen seafood items are usually one of the best ALDI deals. The frozen jumbo shrimp are always a bargain. Don’t bother with the other sizes of shrimp though, they aren’t worth the price compared to their weight. The frozen salmon portions and tilapia fillets are also a few dollars less than your average grocery store.
11. Produce
A word on the produce: much of the ALDI produce is a good buy but use common sense. They package a lot of the produce together, so look carefully at the package to ensure everything looks up-to-par and in good condition. Items rotate frequently and I often find really great prices on tropical fruit like pineapple, kiwi, and even mango. Most of the veggies are pretty cheap too. You’ll get a better deal on fruits like apples and oranges if you buy in bulk, but occasionally you’ll find a good price at ALDI. I’ll admit though, their bananas are not usually a great buy or they’re already past their prime.
I added produce to this list because much of what I’ve read about ALDI produce is that it’s their weak spot. I don’t necessarily find this to be true. The selection is often decent, they offer a decent Organic selection, and you can usually find a bargain, so it’s not something to skip over. I’ve found fresh organic blueberries at a lower cost than regular ones at other stores more times than I can count, so definitely give this isle a look.
12. Choceur, Moser Roth, and Specialty Chocolate
The regular chocolate chips and baking chocolate are so-so. They’re passable for cookies, but not great. But good news—they have a wonderful selection of specialty chocolate! These bars are delicious and often European chocolates (read: no wax and creamy amazing texture). I’m sure I don’t have to tell anyone twice—give their chocolate bars a try.
13. Canned Goods
The canned veggies are such a great ALDI deals. It’s hard to beat $.65 per can. In my opinion, the majority of canned veggies taste pretty similar and it’s hard to discern a big difference by brand. ALDI’s selection has the same specialty options you’d find in name brands, including crushed tomatoes with garlic and oregano, low sodium, and organic options. I know canned food isn’t always ideal, but for pantry storage items like beans, tomato sauce, and other staples, this is the place to fill your shelves!
14. Baking Supplies
I like to bake from scratch, but I know there are people who rely on a mix. And if kids are in the picture, having a few boxes of mixes on hand gives little ones a chance to test their culinary skills. If you’re cooking from scratch, baking staples like flour and sugar will be cheaper in a bulk store. But ALDI has a lot of great options for smaller-quantity items like baking powder, cornstarch, and their organic cane sugar is very cost-friendly.
15. Frozen Veggies
Edamame? Sweet peas? White corn? ALDI has them! Even though they don’t have the vast row of frozen veggies your local supermarket boasts, they definitely have a wide range that can easily fill in for fresh vegetables and fill out any dish. I like to keep bags of frozen veggies on hand to bulk up a dish that needs a healthy addition or so I can slip an extra handful in a meal as a side.
5 Items to Avoid at ALDI
Not every item at ALDI is a don’t-miss item. As I said before, you aren’t likely to find everything on your shopping list. There’s usually only one version of most items, so you won’t have the wide selection you’re used to at your everyday grocery store. I’ve found a few items don’t make the cut, even if they’re priced cheaper.
1. Chips
ALDI chips just aren’t as tasty as brand name chips. I’ve also found it always seems like there’s only half a bag of chips once you get ALDI chips open. I know there’s natural settling involved, but they’re also usually broken and lackluster in taste as far as chips go. If chips are on the table, it usually means there’s a party and at a party, you don’t want to find you only have enough chips to fill half your bowl.
2. Coffee
ALDI’s coffee seems to regularly make both the “don’t pass up” and the “pass up” lists. It’s reasonably priced at $4.99 a package, but if you’re even a little bit of a coffee snob, you’ll want to leave it on the shelf. If you’ve already given up your Starbucks trips to save money and you’re brewing your cuppa at home, do yourself a favor and spend an extra buck or two on a decent bag of coffee.
3. Paper Goods
Toilet paper, paper towels and napkins are good deals at ALDI, but if you’re a coupon shopper you already know how to save big on these items. If you’re stacking coupons for name brand paper goods, you’ll save more shopping somewhere else.
4. Dough
Pillsbury crescents, biscuits, and cookie dough regularly go on sale and are frequently coupon-friendly items at most grocery stores. ALDI offers its own brand of these refrigerated pre-made dough items, but frankly, they aren’t as good. Not only that, but you’ll probably pay more without a coupon for the ALDI brand than you would at the grocery store with a coupon for the name brand.
5. Cereal
This is, again, a coupon issue. You can find great deals on cereals when you buy in bulk or when they go on sale, which is often. The ALDI brand cereal tastes about the same as regular cereals, but there isn’t a huge selection, and you can find other, better cereal on sale and with a coupon elsewhere.
To recap, here are the 15 best ALDI Deals you should totally take advantage of!
1. Fresh Meat Specials
2. Canned Broth
3. Almond Milk
4. Yogurt
5. String Cheese
6. Red Hot Deals (in the center of the store)
7. Organics
8. Gluten-Free Items
9. Salad Dressing
10. Frozen Jumbo Shrimp & Seafood
11. Produce
12. Choceur, Moser Roth, and Specialty Chocolate
13. Canned Goods
14. Baking Supplies
15. Frozen Veggies
And the 5 ALDI items you should avoid:
1. Chips
2. Coffee
3. Paper Goods
4. Dough
5. Cereal
ALDI products and deals can vary from store to store. What ALDI items are a great deal in your area? Tell me your thoughts if you’ve tried them, or anything else you love!
Other helpful resources:
- 15 Things to Buy at Trader Joe’s (and 5 to Avoid)
- How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half
- 10 Essential Pantry Staples to Always Keep on Hand
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Ruth Soukup
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You have some great tips but have failed to either notice or mention the fact that none of Aldi’s produce is sold per lb. It is all sold per bunch or per piece. Therefore, bananas are usually sold at 44 cents per bunch vs. the over priced 49 cents per lb. usually found at grocery stores. I’m not sure how you don’t consider that “a great buy”. Furthermore you mentioned couponing for brand name cereals. What you failed to mention was that those brands are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors. Aldi does not use those items in their cereals or their breads making $1.69 a box of cereal and $.89 a loaf of bread an amazing deal! Their block cheese may be “more expensive” but the imported cheeses are from countries who have outlawed GMOs and do not use hormones on their cows or goats for milk production. By the USDA standards that would make them better than organic. Not so pricey when you look deeper.
I agree! Most people don’t realize organic In the U.S. Is essentially the same as a conventionally produced food from
Europe, only much cheaper!
No it is not. Check with the FDA, Organic in the US must meet with FDA standards and have to comply to be labeled so.
Check Consumer Reports articles on labeling.
And you trust the FDA? They reported in the 70’s that Sugar wasn’t a health risk. We all know how that policy failed
USDA sets the organic standards in the US, not FDA.
Europe isn’t allowed to use a lot of pesticides (poison) the US allows. That’s a fact! So, I would say that conventional food in Europe is indeed much like organic produce in the US! Duh!
I’m looking at their add right now and except for 2 things, I’m seeing “per lb” prices. Not quite sure where you’re finding “by the bunch”. Maybe it’s regional, but the apples, bananas, potatoes, etc have always been by the lb at my store.
That’s interesting they sell produce by the pound. In Michigan it is sold as packaged or each. They don’t weigh anything there
Here they are pre-weighted. The bundles of bananas have a weight and price on the tape that holds the bundle together.
I work for aldi, regular bananas are sold per pound. Normally, where I live, they are 39 cents per pound. However the organic bananas are sold for $1.19 per bunch.
Products are sold by the package in Tennessee also. Aldi never weigh anything.
The packages have weights on them, you just need to look for them. You’re paying by the pound.
I’m in Georgia and they just stared weighing some products by the lbs.
I am a regular shopper at Aldi and have been for a some years. The veggies and produce are sold in packages and the price is based on the weight of the package. For example, in our store the bananas are $.44 per lbs but the are packaged in a bag that is about 1 pound. So if you look at it both statements are correct. They are sold per pound but they are also sold in packages (most of the fruit). Either way I love the saving we get shopping the to feed a family of 6.
they don’t have scales at our store, so we pay a fixed price for produce.
another great buy is cheap eggs. They are better than Walmart’s brands, use enviro-friendly egg cartons, and the last price I paid at an Aldi’s in our area was $1.08 for a dozen of extra large, extra fresh eggs from a mom and pop farm…..I especially like the fact that their eggs have scriptures on the cartons. Just an added plus for me, a Christian! But for goodness sake, don’t buy Aldi’s mayo! Yuk!
I love Aldi’s, but I agree about the Mayo. I just couldn’t get it down.
Where are the Clancy Black peppered kettle chips that I like so well? I have heard others ask about them. They are the best chips!!!!!
I was pleasantly surprised and pleased when I saw the scriptures in their egg cartons too! Makes me want to buy them even more because everytime I get an egg I read the scripture and smile.
Eggs are only 79 cents a pound here in west palm beach Florida !
Oops !! I didn’t mean pound I meant to type a dozen!!
Alabama
Milk $0.89
Milk .79 gal. And eggs .39 doz. at Longview, TX. Drive from from Tyler to Longview every week but new store is opening in Tyler in couple weeks. Can’t wait. Love, love Aldis
Omg, I need to move. . In DC milk at Aldi is $2.39/gallon
(The other stores here its $3.99)
The little mom and pop store I had mentioned often has eggs for 59 cents. And they also have a deli with homemade salads, cheese, and a bakery brings cakes and cookies. One thing I appreciate is that teenage boys carry my bags out to my car. And if someone can’t get out, they call in their order and someone delivers to their home. There are a lot of senior citizens live in the area and need this kind of service.
Isn’t it a conflict when you make deviled eggs?
Scripture in the egg cartons—- I thought that was very odd, and made me not want to buy them.
The egg producer that prints scripture on its egg cartons is one of numerous regional vendors to Aldi in different parts of the country. Aldi is not the originator of the print on its egg cartons, and they don’t carry the Aldi brand name.
We buy the Light Mayo at our Somerset, KY store. We like it! But I’ve found other Aldi’s have never had it.
There are very few things that I pass up at Aldi… I agree with the cereal and their cream cheese is not great… most everything else is fabulous.They sell Dukes mayo at our s in stores in pa and it is very good! Also the dark roast coffee is good as well… LOVE LOVE AlDI! I love how you can go and find new stuff everyweek… lots of selection of cheese, humus, this week I found cucumber/dill greek yogurt for chicken gyros….. I got four huge bags of fresh goodies and MEAT for under 60 bucks I’LL take it! Our grocery store would have been double if not more!!
You are right about the coffee. I forgot to mention that in my earlier comment. I am pretty much a coffee snob and if you get the right blends, they are absolutely fine. The Medium Roast and the Dark Roast are excellent, and if you buy Keurig, you can’t go wrong – $4.49 for a box which would cost $8.00 or $9.00 in Giant. They also have seasonal blends like caramel creme or pumpkin spice which are pretty good as well. I also like their teas – English Breakfast which is really excellent, Herbal Peppermint and Herbal Lemon and Ginseng hit the spot as well. Their Brioche rolls and sliced Brioche bread are a staple with us, along with the Croissants and Breakfast Breads – cinnamon crunch, apple fritter, and pumpkin cobbler. The Breakfast Biscuits (they are comparable to Belvita) are favorites. My husband loves their trail mix bars and my kids are fans of the Evolution protein bars and the pastry crisps, which are exactly like Kellogg’s.
I love Aldi cream cheese! Nothing wrong with it in my book.
Wow! I guess everybody is different. Hellman’s is my favorite mayo and I’m very picky, but I think the Aldi mayonnaise is a great alternative to Hellman’s.
I prefer the cheeses because of the non-GMO factor.
Very good point!
Great response!
This store is so Famous in Germany .Love Aldi❤️And thank you to the Brothers Who own Aldi and Trader joe
Wait…do the brothers own BOTH Aldi AND Trader Joe’s?
Right on!
Agreed!! New fan!!
I was about to mention this! I buy tons of Aldi cereal because there is no HFCS and they use no synthetic colors so they are all plant based.
I am a relatively new Aldi shopper in CT and eager to learn the ropes. I rely high fiber cereals. Any suggestions?
You are right.. the price is reasonable and the cereal isn’t loaded with sugar. I buy the bran flakes and they are perfect and very healthy.
Their raisin bran and shredded wheat is very reasonable and good. Their whole wheat bread is much cheaper than elsewhere. I also find their frozen garlic toast just as good as name brand for half the price. Shredded cheese and blocks of cheese are also cheaper.
Aldi has sold UNBAGGED bananas. apples, grapes and other fruits for some time now, by the pound, as were the pre-bagged items. I find good food at good prices at Aldi, and they have now taken credit cards for some time. Also, I use my own non-paper and non-plastic bags there, just as I do at other stores.
I have shopped at Aldi for years, and noticed a great reduction in my spending. Now that we are retired and living about 8 miles from the nearest store, we continued to do so. However, the last time we shopped there, I have come to consider changing my mind. My husband has severe back pain, along with Parkinsons disease. I have considerably back pain, and we are both elderly. That shopping trip just about laid us up for a couple days, but since we bought enough for several weeks, I don’t think we will need to go back for a while. In our small town is an independent IGA grocery store, where we can buy what we need. They have good bargains and take coupons, and so, since we aren’t eating as much as usual, I am considering small trips there just as we need things.
I have back and knee problems. I found it difficult and tiring to bag my own groceries. The prices were pretty good, but with not having everything I need, and bagging my own items, it’s not worth it. I like Sprouts; they have a better selection, their prices are good and they bag it for you.
Aldi is a good concept, just not for me. But worth a try for sure.
My few of our favorite items atAldi’s are the produce, frozen chicken breast, cheese, and the products made in Germany. The windmill cookies, chocolate and other specialty/seasonal items are good quality and not over priced. The gum, cereal and crackers did not make the cut with my family.
My family loves Aldi here in Oklahoma. Never had a problem with the eggs. Not sure why my store had them for 45cts and the same time my daughter’s store 55 miles away they were $1.39 but are almost always cheaper than Walmart for sure. I have had a few fruits and veggies that seem to have gone bad very quickly but over all they have been awesome. We love the chocolate bars, breads, produce – fruit – veggies. Organic peanut and cashew butter. Ice cream and almond milk. So far the only thing I would STAY AWAY from is their packaged quick meal things. (I don’t use them but my daughter does) The other day she bought fresh meat and the beef stroganoff package because she didn’t want to stop at another store. She did not save money but wasted a pk of fresh meat on this very gross tasting mix. Four people at the table said it was disgusting and spent more $$ ordering out.
My family loves Aldi here in Oklahoma. Never had a problem with the eggs. Not sure why my store had them for 45cts and the same time my daughter’s store 55 miles away they were $1.39 but are almost always cheaper than Walmart for sure. I have had a few fruits and veggies that seem to have gone bad very quickly but over all they have been awesome. We love the chocolate bars, breads, produce – fruit – veggies. Organic peanut and cashew butter. Ice cream and almond milk. So far the only thing I would STAY AWAY from is their packaged quick meal things. (I don’t use them but my daughter does) The other day she bought fresh meat and the beef stroganoff package because she didn’t want to stop at another store. She did not save money but wasted a pk of fresh meat on this very gross tasting mix. Four people at the table said it was disgusting and spent more $$ ordering out.
ALDI has special deals in Germany, too. And sometimes they sell clothes. And I can tell you, they are very low quality.
Don’t buy clothes at ALDI.
Aldi is a typical German system store i.e what we have you take …do not ask for more. For example the other day I asked the Manager in one store about the 20% Tea Tree oil which disappeared from all their stores. So he said all oils comes mixed in a box so in the mean time if I want oil I can take Eucalyptus oil but no tea tree oil.!!!!!
Something else to remember dear Aussies…Aldi gets limted number of items…..imagine if Coles or Woollies were not around. yeas Aldi is Cheap but God save Coles & Woollies
JOA
Well JOA I live in Australia too & I only shop at IGA & ALDI because with Coles & Woolworths they rip off the farmers & customers all the time ! As long as their shareholders are happy, then we should all be happy !
Actually their peanut butter claimed trans fat free but ingredients listed were hydrogenated oils.That is just a longer word for trans fats so be careful.Everything else is ok and I find green bananas not ripened or over ripened bananas at my local Aldi.
Which peanut butter is the healthiest to get at Auldi?
I’ve bought clothes, shoes, house accessories and saved and haven’t been disappointed
me too. one completely satisfied shopper here… i detest coupons!!!
I have been an ALDI shopper for the last two years when ALDI arrived in my suburban Philadelphia area. I have bought many non-food items and been totally satisfied with them. This past summer, as I was outfitting my twins for college, ALDI had a Dorm section which rivaled the selection at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond for many items, and everything was a lot cheaper. It seems that whenever I say to myself – “I really need x” – I walk into ALDI and they have it! Just recently, my Crock-Pot broke and I thought “wouldn’t it be nice if ALDI had those today?” I was taking my son back to his dorm and we stopped there to stock up on his items and darned if there wasn’t their brand of crock-pot on sale? Like magic! LOL They had only 3 on the shelf and I have certainly learned that if you want it, get it because it will be gone, so I did. It was not in pretty metallic colors like the red one I bought at Kohl’s, and was a 5 quart rather than a 6 quart, but it also cost $19.99 rather than $29.99, and I have not noticed any appreciable problem with it being 1 quart less. Plus it is programmable, which my other one was not. I am an ALDI fan through and through. Cell phone power packs, charging cases, sheets, blankets, even a memory foam mattress topper, and my absolute favorite buy – shiny red vinyl rain boots, $25.00 at TJ Maxx, $9.99 at ALDI. Fan for life! Oh yeah – and the food is pretty good too!
Fine with not buying clothes at Aldi or really most retail stores. Over the weekend, I picked up 14 shirts at a yard sale, all brand names, for $12. Now, they look great, and people at work would have no idea they are used shirts – they came clean, ironed and folded. Heck, most mens shirts sell for more than $12 for a single one! So happy to deal with people at yard sales too, no prices looks-ups ,call a manager, self-check out, and price is often liberally rounded down so getting change isn’t an issue….
Sorry, but I can’t share your opinion. I’m from Germany and I always buy the cloth from ALDI (South) and the quality is as good as it is at H & M, Primark,….. I do have three kids and we need a lot of sporting cloth – things get lost in Germany, too …
Just last week I bought myselfe a pair of sandals for about 8 Dollars. They will not last for more than a season and this is not the best way for the world (Nachhaltigkeit) but if I had bought them at a boutique they would have cost a lot more and there is no garantie they would last any longer.
Aldi (South) does have great quality. I don’t like ALDI (North) as much.
I’m amuesed about the quater-part. In Germany, there is nosupermarket without this carts. And we have never had someone to pack our things in paper or plastic. I lives in the States for a while and those where things I really missed when I returned to Germany.
My grandparents would shop at Aldi all the time so I’ve always known about them, but didn’t really shop there as an adult until the past few years. I buy canned goods and some produce there, but my two favorite things are their brownie mix and pasta sauce. I’ve yet to find any brand I like better and the cost can’t be beat. It’s a win-win!
I also love both of these items
I like the idea of a quarter deposit for a cart. It gives people incentive not to leave it where it can roll and damage a car. I lot of times at Aldi, people will give you their cart for a quarter or nothing if they were going to return it anyhow. I had a cart roll into the side of my car once so you can probably see why I wish people would put them back or at the very least place it somewhere it will not roll away. You would be surprised how fast a cart rolls on a windy day or down a hill.
I’ve seen the wind send a cart rolling at such a high speed that it could inflict great damage. Its an amazing thing to see. I don’t think a person could cause the kind of damage as this tremendous force. Not just damage to a parked car, but also to people.
The brownie mix is the best that I have found..love it too!
I also buy bananas at Aldis…I dehydrate them so when Aldis has overripe ones I will get 10-20 lbs at a time. Family loves them!
I just bought bananas at Aldi’s and they smell mildewy
I buy bananas ar Aldi every week. Never noticed a problem, but with anything, you can get a bad batch.
Just bought the bite size salami and immediately opened the package. That was the most awful smell ever, I thought it was rotten. Did not even touch it and trashed it right away. First and last time shopper at Aldi.
Read the ingredient panel for sugars & hydrogenated fat.
Also, most packaging is not recycleable, as years ago I talked with a company executive who did not WANT to understand.
What packaging is not recyclable??? Also, a company isn’t going to spend money changing over their packaging.
I read all the information on the ingredient panel even at other stores.
Shopping at Aldi for most everything including their coffee, it is fine ground almost an espresso ground and use only halve of the amount for 12 cups.
I also like the ethnic items and they are the most reasonable priced items.
Not a big meat eater, so can’t tell you much on that. Like the variety of cheeses
and of course , don’t forget the cheesecakes.
This is a great list! I visit Aldi frequently, usually weekly, and the 15 are true for me as well. However, I do like coffee at Aldi; they have 100% arabica coffee and cups as well. Reasonable prices and great taste. I also really like their macadamia milk. Wine at Aldi seems like a good deal (I don’t drink it so don’t know about the taste). Thanks!
Disappointing … Aldi’s is starting to charge produce by the pound. I saw it in my store today with grapes, tomatoes and bananas.
They have always charged by the pound. Grapes are .99 and the bag is 2 lbs for $1.99. No price change.
I’m having a hard time seeing this as a bad thing. It gives me more flexibility, and the price per pound will be the same, so….How is this bad again?
This is a surprising list. Aldi’s kettle cooked plain chips are the best potato chips ever. I am in love with them. Also coffee and cereal are also some of my favorite things to buy.
I agree…I always buy chips at Aldi and the price can’t be beat. I don’t think I’ve had a bad chip! I always buy my paper products there bc the price is right. I love Aldi!
Love The frozen scallops! And frozen strawberry pops! Also big container of white mini donuts! Can’t Best prices on milk and eggs!!!
Love Aldis coffee!
I do too! The coffee pods are awesome! And the regular potato chips are my favorite!
I have to agree with the article. Even though I am a VERY frequent Aldi shopper, I have found some of their chips and bagged snacks to taste almost stale. Particularly the ones that are intended to compete with Cheetos.
Their tortilla chips are excellent but with the others, it is hit-or-miss.
I like picking out the bananas, not having them already packed in bags. This way go could buy how many you want.
Well, all regular food stores charge for produce by the pound. You don’t have to buy a whole pound though.
I love Aldis but why did they stop sailing original friendly farm creamer
I love Aldi! I’m a vegan, on a fixed income, and honestly, I cannot normally afford to shop anywhere else. There products are first rate. I’m also a classically trained chef, so it goes without saying that I am extremely discerning. I read labels, and that’s vital for any shopper! It can be hectic at times, but WELL worth the trip. The produce is very good quality, and mostly packaged, but ALWAYS less expensive than the competition. As a vegan. I must have a sizeable quantity of vegetables fruits, and nuts. I just could not do better in the chain grocers her in Saint Louis. I am grateful that I have the Aldi option! It seems that each time I go, generally 2-3 times each month, there is a new discovery. I am not a “couponer,” but I once was, and snubbed Aldi in favor of those big grocers. I was stupid! Their own label products have no artificial ingredients, or funky colors thst cause cancer. Pasta, is exactly the same as store brands, including Walmart. Aldi’s distribution network getd some of those brands from huge manufacturers that do store brands on the same lines as many other grocery chains. Just know that going in! Rolled oats is mostly the same as Quaker…rolled oats(most of the time) is rolled aats! You know? It’s all about logic, and the intended purpose of the final product you prepare. For instance: it doesn’t make sense to use more expensive, fresh, cut tomatoes in a soup, just use canned tomatoes, unless you’re too snooty!
They’ve added a lot of high-end products as well. I can get a coconut spread(butter substitute), my almond milk, beans, organic Italian extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, chia seeds, and on, and on! It’s easy to find salt-free diced tomatoes, and stock. Quinoa can easily be double the $2.99 price tag in other stores. I get seasonal goodies in various places throughout the store, that are often far superior to what can be had in a supermarket, and comparable to something you’d see at Whole Foods. The snack crackers, European chocolates, kalamata olives, and lately even things like a really great flatbread, pita, even baguettes, and THAT is the hook; REALLY great quality, at incredulous prices! I live alone, and shop very carefully. I can easily get all my grocery staples, and the majority of my fresh produce for the most of the month, for $100!
I am an environmental advocate, and bring my own bags as a matter of course. They do have VERY GOOD, nicely large fabric shopping bags for purchase, but many folks seek out the big bins of readily availble cardboard boxes to carry their loot home. Bring your bags, save trash! If I still ate meat, and animal products, I’d could find incredible bargains! They are a model of efficiency in action, and their employees are fast, friendly and do every task in the well-run store. If you’re old enough to have enjoyed the quintessential neighborhood grocery; you will certainly remember that everyone working in those places, multi-tasked. The same concept applies to Aldi, albeit that their employees are decently paid, WITH good fringe benefits, health insurance(long before a mandate). They work hard, are paid well, and are extremely helpful, because each employee knows every square inch of that store, and its contents. It’s as it ought to be!
Try it! They’re rapidly expanding, and I recently noticed that they have moved into California in a big way. I forgot to mention that they also carry a great line of reasonably priced wines, and very fine German beers too. Oh, when you get the hang of it; you too will be a convert! How they pack all of the greatest food in that smaller space, I will never know! But man, I’m a huge fan!
Thanks for reading.
AH Young
Saint Louis, MO
What do you think about Aldi Pizza…have you tried it and is the chesse real
It is not good. Had to throw it out.
Aldi pizza the fresh one is great .after reading that a woman said it was so bad she had to throw it out . This can only be a ploy stunt by a big box over charging pizza parlor I would assume like that Italian little C chain that advertise one price 5 dollars but charges 5.99 a pie at the drive up every day .talk about about unhandled pie flipping
Make ahead of time dough.
Pizza dough & pie crust dough can be homemade & frozen.
Both doughs MUST have time to rest in order to absorb flour & loosen buildt up gluten strands.
Pizza needs olive oil in & both sides of finished dough shape.
A thin seal of grated cheese, light wt. toppings, ending with (a grid like pattern) olive oil drizzle; oregano to taste.
I definitely agree I love THEYRE fresh boxed pizza, but you must com properly.
My wife loves the pre cooked bacon. She buys all her food there for her Keto diet. The carb free bread is wonderful. I love the, Take and Bake Cheesy Bread Sticks.
Don’t buy eggs at Adlai, they are not fresh and I have fount red spots on the yokes which I think means they have started generate a chick!
I shop a lot there and my favorite secretin is the organic mixed greens, cheeses, almond milk and mineral water!
The only way for an egg to “generate a chick” is for it to be fertilized by a rooster and that isn’t happening to the eggs you’re buying at the store.
Blood Spots. Occasionally found on an egg yolk. These tiny spots do not indicate a fertilized egg. Instead, they are caused by the rupture of a blood vessel on the yolk surface during formation of the egg or by a similar accident in the wall of the oviduct
Never had a problem with eggs from Aldi. I mainly buy their organic ones. I go through a dozen a week.
Also eggs are always good and their large eggs are generally as big as jumbo eggs in a traditional store. They sell a ton of eggs, usually less than a buck a dozen.
Just went yesterday for the first time. love the prices and products
I prefer their pizza what other stores carry, they have different kinds than you kind find anywhere else. I’ve stopped buying it in other stores. The eggs are as fresh as you get anywhere, I tend to test all eggs I get (put them in water). But the milk is the best, it is the freshest and last longer than I can find anywhere else.
Really good, actually! I get the spinach and goat cheese pizza and it is my favorite store pizza I’ve ever had to be honest. It’s just soooo good! <3
Depends which one you get. Some of them are really good.
i agree. I have had some very good pizzas from Aldi. There are some unusual varieties that I don’t buy because the toppings don’t appeal to me, but I have enjoyed their more conventional thin crust pizzas.
actually it is good, had it more than often cause im a pizza fanatic
Their cheese is really good, I get the block cheeses as well as the sliced and am partial to the Havarti and Pepper Jack; however, they don’t have a long shelf-life, so eat within a week or two of opening. Their shredded cheeses are good too and my son, who makes his own pizza, loves the shredded Mozzarella.
I haven’t tried their frozen pizza, but we tried the refrigerated, “take and bake” pizza from Aldi and were really pleased. It’s as good as take-out and far better than that big “take and bake” pizza chain (which, honestly, is practically inedible). It’s also very reasonably priced–between $5 and $7, depending on the toppings, for a really huge pizza that can feed all three of my children with enough left over for mom. We’ve found the toppings, including the cheese, to be of good quality. Aldi pizza has become our go-to for pizza nights when I don’t have time to make it from scratch.
Pizza is really good.
Staple in my house, my son (13) loves it and will actually come and help do the shopping and onload so he can get a pizza. Can’t be beat.
Good pizza
I love that they have live g free pizza. I usually add vegie s to mine. Also love the new Live G Free bread . It,s. awsome.
We love the pizzas. And it’s so easy to add a few items to the frozen ones.
Great review! Can’t wait to shop Aldi!
I used to work for Aldi, and yes, the employees are decently paid, but they work for it, doing everything from cleaning bathrooms to scrubbing floors. They have required ring times, and can get written up if they don’t achieve them, They give a little slack to the newbies, but once they start enforcing the ring times, the pressure makes it very stressful. As for the health insurance, there is no premium to pay, but the percentage they cover if you ever have to use it is pretty pitiful. Don’t get me wrong, I love Aldi and still shop there, but working there isn’t all beer and skittles. They yank the managers to whatever store they please, and the turnover is high. I hardly ever see the same cashier twice.
I probably do at least half of my grocery shopping at Aldi, and there are some items that I won’t buy anywhere else, unless I am in a bind and can’t get there. Their strip steaks are amazing, especially when you grill them medium-rare. I won’t buy them anywhere else, and the grass-fed beef is a pretty good deal as well. I love that they are adding a lot more variety of things like oils and whole grain items. It’s usually pretty hard for me to stick to my grocery list whenever I shop there……lol.
Yes !!!! I used to say avoid the meat section but now we get our best steaks from ALDI!
The only real No for my household is the cereals. We do not think the “more kid friendly” cold cereals taste anything like name brand. My kids eat cereal for snacks as we are usually a cooked breakfast family but they just do not like the ALDI brand and the few I’ve tried I agree with them.
Thank you! I totally agree.
I love the produce section at Aldi. And it helps me get and try different foods with my kids without worrying about wasting money if it’s a flop.
Organic eggs are fine.
Love their chips and prices.
Don’t feed your loved ones any cereal it is sugar laden crap. Their organic whole bean coffee is excellent. I grind it fresh and brew it strong. Their organic basil pasta sauce rocks.