ALDI, please tell me about them. What are your favorites?

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

Hi all, please tell me about ALDI. What are your favorite items to get there? What seasonal items do you look for? Any other items I should be on the lookout for/try? Thanks for any and all replies.

 

[firecracker725]

I love their prices on canned tomatoes and beans, tortilla chips, pretzels, spices, Sucralose (packets and granules), oatmeal, and kid snacks. I try to go in about once a month and stock up on those things. I will say, don't bother with their version of Velveeta. It's horrendous.

 

[QueenIsabella]

We like most things from Aldi's, and do probably 80% of our shopping there. They improve every day, but aren't likely to have exotic spices or all cuts of meat. For example, they have boneless chicken breasts $1.99/lb every day (sometimes on sale for $1.69). But, they only have boneless thighs once in a while (like this week, also for $1.69/lb). So, you'll still have to get some stuff elsewhere.

Most of their food is very good--on par with regular brands (most everything is their store brand, but frequently made in the same factory as name brands). There are a few things we don't like--plain Cheerios, for one. The flavored ones are fine, but I have to get name-brand Cheerios when we want them. I also find their pasta gets mushy, but have no problem with Walmart store brand--go figure.

In the past few years, I've had no problem with their fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. This may vary from store to store. Their prices are good to excellent.

They do a lot of "special", limited runs of stuff--like, right now, it's Mexican for Cinco de Mayo. Other times it's Italian specialties, Asian, etc. At Christmas, they have German specialties--the company is German--including stollen, excellent chocolate, muesli, gingerbread, etc. When these items run out, they're gone until the next time.

 

[North of Mouse]

Hi all, please tell me about ALDI. What are your favorite items to get there? What seasonal items do you look for? Any other items I should be on the lookout for/try? Thanks for any and all replies.

I don't do any regular shopping there, but I do go weekly for a special few items. I use their wide pan breads, Jalapeno kettle chips (addicted to them, lol) and different fruits and veggies depending on season.
Have tried a few other things, but usually get brand names cheaper (or as cheap) at several great grocery stores nearby. I do love them though!
We also have a Lidl's down the street, but don't care for them at all. Can't put my finger on it, just don't!

We have Publix, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Lowes, Target and Walmart (will soon have Wegman) all within a couple miles, so I tend to be choosy!

 

[lynxstch]

We do a lot of our shopping at Aldi also. Ours has very good produce, at very good prices. Their brand of canned veggies, soups, etc are all on par with most store brands. Unlike the above poster, we have no issues with their pasta being mushy. As for cereal, I love their frosted mini wheats, and at $1.39 a box, they are a lot less expensive than name brands. They have weekly meat specials. I also love their $1.99 boneless chicken breasts. Our aldi's always has boneless thighs and chicken wings too. Their milk is the same price as our Walmart ($1.25 a gallon), and their eggs are the same price as Walmart- $1.16, but we buy theirs as they still come in the 'cardboard' containers, which I recycle into wood stove fire starters. My husband only eats plain whole milk greek yogurt, and the containers at Aldi's are $2.99 compared to around $4 or more of Walmart brand. We usually go early on Saturdays, and a lot of their bread products have coupons on them as they are getting near their end date. They have a lot of seasonal items , like right now they have mowers, garden supplies, etc. We just bought 2 spiral honey glazed hams for Easter at $1.69 a lb. And their cashiers are the fastest around. There can be a line of 5 people, and within 10 min they are all checked out.

 

[LilyWDW]

I really like Aldi. It is my first stop on my weekly shopping trips. Never had an issue with their produce or meat. Prices are great. I get many of my basics there plus random stuff that I find. Heck, I belong to a FB group called Aldi Nerds so that should tell you something.

Remember your quarter and shopping bags!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I get my bread there. I do WW and there is a Schmidt's bread at other stores -647- which is 1 WW point. Costs $3.99. Aldi has a Fit & Active bread that is the same 1 point and cost $1.79. Also, a pound bag of pretzels is $.59, and they are as good as the brand name. Milk is cheap too.

 

[Jocelynaus]

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[georgina]

I buy most of my fruits and vegetables there, eggs, organic milk, creamer, canned vegetables, yogurt quarts. Like a previous poster, we still get brand name Cheerios. I don't get much meat there but sometimes the grass-fed ground beef.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

We get produce, specialty cheeses, organic pasta sauce, organic milk, and Kerry Gold there. We also look for holiday foods around Christmas, and they've always been good.

 

[design_mom]

I'll admit that most of what I buy there is junk food! My daughter has a sensitivity to synthetic food coloring and most, not all, of their store brand stuff doesn't have dye in it. I can find plenty of 'healthy food' at any store, but sometimes junk food/processed food is hard to find.

They have nacho chips like Doritos (we call them faux-ritos) for about 89¢ per bag. Their toaster tarts (Pop tarts) don't have dye and taste very similar to the real thing. They have dye-free Fruit Ring cereal (froot loops). As well as some other things that are hard to find without dye, like marshmallows, vanilla pudding, and (believe it or not) pickle relish! They also sometimes have seasonal items -- like holiday sprinkles or themed hard candies -- that are dye free.

We also like their cookies -- we've tried their knock-offs of girl scout cookies (thin mints, samoas, peanut butter patties) that are just as good and about 25% of the price. Their Fudge Stripes knock-offs are good too.

We have also bought other things like milk, frozen pizza, cheese, produce. So far I haven't really found anything bad.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

I'll admit that most of what I buy there is junk food! My daughter has a sensitivity to synthetic food coloring and most, not all, of their store brand stuff doesn't have dye in it. I can find plenty of 'healthy food' at any store, but sometimes junk food/processed food is hard to find.

They have nacho chips like Doritos (we call them faux-ritos) for about 89¢ per bag. Their toaster tarts (Pop tarts) don't have dye and taste very similar to the real thing. They have dye-free Fruit Ring cereal (froot loops). As well as some other things that are hard to find without dye, like marshmallows, vanilla pudding, and (believe it or not) pickle relish! They also sometimes have seasonal items -- like holiday sprinkles or themed hard candies -- that are dye free.

We also like their cookies -- we've tried their knock-offs of girl scout cookies (thin mints, samoas, peanut butter patties) that are just as good and about 25% of the price. Their Fudge Stripes knock-offs are good too.

We have also bought other things like milk, frozen pizza, cheese, produce. So far I haven't really found anything bad.

Thanks for mentioning the dye free thing. That makes me happy to hear.

 

[ReneeA]

The only thing we've really found that we don't like are the American cheese slices. Really, really bad. Otherwise, everything has been on par or some even better than name brand.

My son loves the frozen, precooked sausage patties. Microwaved for 1 minute, slap them on a toasted English muffin, and you have a breakfast sandwich just like sold at fast food. He's 17, 6'2" and still growing, so I buy lots and lots and lots of quick, easy foods for him to grab. Aldi is my friend with growing teens.

ETA: Their chocolates are to die for. Imported European chocolate for a steal.

 

[amberpi]

I get most things there, and they are the closest store to me now (ours is new). We do have some things we have to get at Kroger/Publix and often get our meat at the butcher and our produce from the farmer's market when it's in season. I can't say enough good things about it.

ETA: Aldi participates in Instacart too, which is how we get the vast amount of our groceries. It's the best. I can't imagine spending an hour or 2 a week at a grocery, or a few minutes a day at the market. This is so much better

 

[kdonnel]

The only item we have found that is profoundly inferior is the instant oatmeal.

Everything else is either as good as the national brand or close enough.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think there were only two things we weren't crazy about, one was a cheesecake and I can't even remember what the other was. I like the Friendly Farms (Chobani style) yogurts, the cheeses are good especially the cranberry cheddar I think it is that's sold around the Holidays, I've gotten more compliments on that cheese! The Sea Salt Butter (tub) is very good, I like to buy several when I'm there in case I don't make it back for a while. Sometimes the meat specials are really good, I bought chicken parm breasts once ready to cook, they were excellent, I went back for more and they were all gone. I also like some of the non-food items, always interesting to see what they have. Have fun shopping!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I wish my Aldi's was closer!!

I do go occasionally, and probably what I buy the most are snack and treats. (Remember the old Kool-Aid commercials about "there's one house on the block where all the kids play"? - Yeah, I need cheap snacks!) Most things I've bought are as good as the name brand, and a few are better - the honey pretzels and the cookies like Girl Scout Samoas come to mind! DS also likes their brand of Caesar Dressing best, and I stock up on their zip-top bags and trash bags too.

I rarely get cold items because I'm usually only over there in the middle of other errands, but the few things I've tried have been great - including the fresh pizza and any produce I've gotten (and the produce prices are excellent!) I agree about bread, too - I've been able to find great deals with less salt (which my DH has to watch).

I agree with others about the cereal not being as good. But that's all I can think of to avoid right now.

Oh, and my other favorite thing is that you bag your own stuff! - I pack things based on where I'll be putting them away, and it goes so much quicker when I get home!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I wish my Aldi's was closer!!

I do go occasionally, and probably what I buy the most are snack and treats. (Remember the old Kool-Aid commercials about "there's one house on the block where all the kids play"? - Yeah, I need cheap snacks!) Most things I've bought are as good as the name brand, and a few are better - the honey pretzels and the cookies like Girl Scout Samoas come to mind! DS also likes their brand of Caesar Dressing best, and I stock up on their zip-top bags and trash bags too.

I rarely get cold items because I'm usually only over there in the middle of other errands, but the few things I've tried have been great - including the fresh pizza and any produce I've gotten (and the produce prices are excellent!) I agree about bread, too - I've been able to find great deals with less salt (which my DH has to watch).

I agree with others about the cereal not being as good. But that's all I can think of to avoid right now.

Oh, and my other favorite thing is that you bag your own stuff! - I pack things based on where I'll be putting them away, and it goes so much quicker when I get home!

Almost forgot about the salad dressings! The Vinaigrettes are delicious, especially the one that has the whole garlic cloves at the bottom, but all of them are really good. For the past couple of years for XMas I've given a big Aldi's bag full of different items in the store as gifts to a couple of people and they were a huge hit, especially the dressings.

 

[Hikergirl]

Their Girl Scout Cookie copy cats are way better than the real thing and they are only $0.95 a package
I buy alot of snack foods there- cashews, chips, pretzels, dried fruits, sunflower seeds, low-carb snack bars.
I was told never to buy their version of the Nature Valley granola bars again though.
They have a great selection of cheeses, and I pair them with the cracker assortment they have.
Guacamole, humus and "fresh" salsa are staples in my fridge but sometimes I just don't feel like making my own and their's make a decent substitute.
I love their boneless chicken breasts. I was hesitant at first to try them since I (was) a loyal Purdue buyer. Now I don't buy Purdue anymore.
I don't buy any other meats there.
The produce is hit or miss, I get stuff that I plan to use that day if it saves me a trip to another store but I find alot of the stuff is over ripe so I pass on it. They have some bagged slaw salads that are good and I can always find some that have awhile before the good by date.
I also love the Serra brand cami's they carry. When they get them in I stock up.
I also buy my ziploc bags, and plastic cutlery from there. Their paper plates are good quality but I usually get them in bulk from BJ's so I don't bother getting them from Aldis.
I do not like their paper products like toilet paper, paper towels and tissues.

 

[SG131]

Almond milk is my number one thing, much cheaper. Also get their spreadable butter. Their fruits and vegetables are always priced very well compared to my local stores. The only thing I didn’t like was their strawberry jelly! Sometimes I get knock off cereals there too.