Aldi shopping help

[wedindis'00]

We'll be visiting Aldi for the first time this week-end. I would love some recommendations for some "must try(s)" and "stay away from(s)".

Thanks

 

[amy-momofthree]

Definitely bring your own bags. You have to bag your own stuff and have to buy the bags if you didn't bring your own. You will need a quarter for the cart, you get it back when you return it.

For aldi's we like their produce, bacon, eggs , juice, milk, cereal, snacks.

Aldis is not good for meat or specialty items (whole wheat items)

You most likely won't be able to get everything on your list. They are rather limited.

Have fun!

 

[mrspaha]

As PP said, bring your own bags. Also, they do not accept credit cards, so bring cash or your debit card or Link card).

Be aware that most everything is their generic brand, which actually I think is excellent quality.

We love their microwave popcorn. Their tortilla chips are great too, and a great bargain.

Bananas are always the best bargain (.39/lb here), but sometimes quality is poor; they're pre-bagged and weighed, so you can't break off the one or two bad ones in the bunch.

Milk is generally cheaper than supermarkets, unless your supermarket is running a special.

Basic baking supplies are much cheaper also -- brown sugar, sugar, flour, chocolate chips, baking soda, etc. Their boxed brownie mix is pretty good too.

Plan on taking your time to check things out. You probably know about what you normally pay on your usual staple items. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at their prices.

And don't be alarmed if there's only one or two cashiers and long lines. They move incredibly fast.

 

[dixonismydog]

I especially LOVE their veggie chips! Located in the regular chip aisle......yummy!

 

[johde]

Most everything I've bought from our Aldis has been good. Since someone mentioned fresh meat. I've had good luck with their hams, and ground turkey. Around here, their ground turkey is cheaper than the cheap ground beef and much leaner. So, I use it for heavily spiced dishes like sloppy joes, taco, chili etc. I save the Ground beef for thing like hamburgers.

 

[eatatmidnight]

Best Buys IMO are flour, sugar, Cheese Rice cakes, Old Fashioned and Quick cooking oats, any cheese, milk, moose tracks ice cream, lunchmeat that comes in a tub, eggs, butter, vanilla, pasta, zip top bags, rice, produce and Kona coffee.

Stay away from Cereal, paper towels, toilet paper, dog food, bacon, breakfast sausage roll and potato chips.

 

[elcodfish]

The only thing I have tried and would not buy again are the baked chips. Other than that all there basics (milk, eggs, bread) are great. Produce is hit or miss, just check out what you are buying and make sure it's good, I had some potatoes I bought that some were rotten, but that could happen anywhere. I really like their spaghetti sauce and even the steaks there were good!

 

[Mickey527]

If there is any left grab the frozen butternut squash casserole. It is seasonal here but I have found some way into May. It has a brown sugar and walnuts topping. Tastes better baked but can be microwaved.
My family loves their bonesless pork loins. Much more tender than what we buy at Stop & Shop. I think they brine them, very tasty.
Frozen bbq ribs are great. My brother brought them for appetizers for a picnic and they were the first thing gone.
Tandril laundry soap works just as good as Tide. I only used tide in the past but tried this once and am hooked. It even cleans off spagetti sauce stains on my grandson's white uniform shirts. they do make an HE brand
their store brand softeneer is good too, but I only get the mountain meadows scent, the others are too flowery.
all of their fresh fruit is so much cheaper than what I can get at my local grocery store.
Yougurt, Cottage Cheese, Milk, butter, all alot cheaper and just as good as the name brands.

 

[tonilea]

Other than the Sharks (their version of Goldfish - DS said they weren't cheesy enough), we have been really happy with everything we have purchased.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

Stay away from (or look really hard at) Produce

Everything else is fair game for me! Have fun and don't forget a quarter for the shopping cart

 

[caribear]

I rarely go to Aldi's, but stopped in there the other day on the recommendation of a friend. I really liked the Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips (white corn)....and they have these gourment fresh baked cookies that come 10/package that are really good, but not too budget at $2.99. I also bought some frozen green beans that were tasty.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

We love their veggie chips, tortilla chips, and... pretty much all of their chips - especially their BBQ chips... they are HEAVENLY.

Their version of cheese-its are great.

DH loooooves their root beer (I only drink diet - their diet isn't that awesome)

We get milk, eggs, and cheese from them.

Their cereal is super cheap and tastes the exact same as name brands.

Canned veggies are super cheap - we buy them in bulk.

Their popcorn shrimp is to die for. The fresh chicken thighs are good, as are the bags of frozen boneless/skinless chicken breast.

Their other meat.... not so much.

Their bagels are great, and their normal wheat and honey wheat bread.

-and lastly, ours has GREAT produce.




The best thing about Aldi is that if you don't like something - for ANY reason - they will give you double your money back. We tried their bacon wrapped filets a few months ago, and they were vomit-inducing nasty. I paid 10$ for a box of 4. I took the uncooked two back in the box, and would have just settled for 10$ (or even 5$ back)... but they gave me 20$.

They will definitely always have us as customers!

 

[Princesa]

I have found many things to be cheaper and still excellent quality.

LOVE the fresh salsa in the refrigerated section...Santa Fe Southwestern is our favorite, and we've recieved many compliments on it when served at our house. Their tortilla chips are tasty also.

They have a great Strawberry jam that uses only sugar not high fructose corn syrup.

I second baking supplies plus...nuts, vanilla, honey, etc. all much cheaper.

much cheaper prices on produce.... sometimes hit or miss, but usually no problems. have given up on apples, but don't seem to have problems with anything else, just check items really well just like anywhere.

sliced cheese, butter, romaine, also paper plates, and even the coffee

I never come home from Aldi without a Waferneusse for my DH...candy bar of darker chocolate covered wafers with a hazelnut spread inside...yum. They used carry a hazelnut spread (like Nutella)--we were very sad to see that stop appearing

I don't buy a ton of meat from there though, or many of the frozen foods just because I am particular about what ingredients are used. For the same reason, I buy my breads and cereals elsewhere...would rather pay a little more to have my preferred standard of indgredients. Ice creams also... pay more for Breyer's if I'm going to buy any just for the natural indgredients.

Overall we love Aldi, and make it a regular stop for groceries--great prices and we always try the bonus finds of German products they offer, we have enjoyed many delicious specialty items from their own lines!

 

[ShanPooh]

Just before Christmas we discovered the joy of Aldi here in America.
I shopped there when I was an exchange student years ago in Germany. Their slogan "Aldi ist Billig" (Aldi is cheap) made me laugh
I loved their chocolate in Germany and was so excited to see that they brought the same yummy chocolates to the US!
With the exception of milk, butter, and eggs - I bought everything for Christmas baking from Aldi: maraschino cherries, vanilla, almond extract, sugar, flour, milk chocolate and dark chocolate chips, honey, dates, and raisins.
I was surprised how little I spent making 12 different kinds of cookies!
Aldi's versions of Wheat Thins and Frosted Mini Wheats cost 1/2 - 2/3 less than the brand names. DS (9) says he likes them better because they taste good and cost less
DH really likes their donut shoppe coffee and their French roast coffee. He also says that their frozen lunches (dinners) are comparable to Michelina's but might be a bit bigger.
DD likes their honey roasted peanuts and trail mix.
We've mostly been sticking to shelf stable items, but next time we might be more adventurous and try some more new things.

 

[LindyN]

Aldi is on my weekly grocery stops. Here's a cool fact: Aldi also owns Trader Joe's!

Stuff I avoid:
canned veggies - too many stems and ends. Fruits have the same problems. just not as good of quality than the name brand.
cereals - taste "flat" to me, but we don't do sugar cereals.
paper products (paper towels, TP) just don't seem as strong as what I buy elsewhere.
soaps and laundry product (we're a Tide family, period)
jarred tomato sauce (hate that Grandessa stuff)
Toothpaste

Stuff I buy regularly at Aldi:
frozen fruit, especially berries
pretzels
eggs/cheese/cream
fresh produce (my Aldi is vigilant about getting rid of rotten stuff)
frozen novelties (their juice bars are yummy)
bagged lettuce and salad items
Green peppers, cucumbers, bananas.
Flour tortillas
canned pineapple, cherry pie filling, some wines

I can usually buy heads of lettuce, milk and eggs for less in Kroger. Don't care for Aldi meats; I have a local grocery which does a great job with meats and I only buy Perdue chicken which is not sold at Aldi. (I won't buy any pre-packaged beef in a sealed package from a factory farm or processing plant.)

We eat lots of fresh food here, and Aldi saves me a lot of $$ with these items. As for other groceries though, I usually shop at three other stores (Kroger, Marsh, and WalMart), and I know how much just about everything costs in these places. Often I can go to one of the mainstream stores and pay the same as what I would spend in Aldi.

Its not a very customer oriented store and you'll probably stand in a somewhat long line and sack your own groceries. Allow plenty of time in there, especially on a Saturday or payday friday. I usually go on Tuesdays or Wednesdays to avoid the crowds.

There's lots to like about Aldi, but you probably won't get all of your shopping done in that stop, and you'll find some hits and misses.

 

[DZNEE4US]

I have had good luck with their produce department. Bananas, mushrooms, broccoli, and baby carrots were all good.
I also discovered they had English muffins for 99 cents!!! The "brand name" ones cost up to $3.99 at my regular grocery store!!!! They taste great as well. I love their sour cream, and at .99, I love it even more. I am finding their dairy items are great. I bought cottage cheese yesterday, and we'll see how that compares. I also love their .99 bags of salad mix. Now, it's not a huge bag, and it doesn't last that long- but the bags that are double the price (and more!) at the grocery store aren't much better.
I am having fun trying new things here and there, and I am amazed when I look at my bill and see how many things I buy that cost under $1!!! When is the last time that happened at my regular store?!?!
With prices so low, it doesn't hurt to try things.

 

[hsmamato2]

I buy *almost* everything at Aldi- love their brand (BTW,it's a Trader Joes company)cheese,crackers,chips,fruit,veggies,ice cream(1/2 gal)flour,sugar,oil,eggs,milk,bread,etcetcetc
I don't like their frozen meats-they are cheap and add filler junk to the meats-
I do buy fresh ground beef,beef for fajitas,and pork in the meat case tho(non frozen)
I like the whole wheat bread-etc
the produce is as good as anywhere else, pick good stuff when you go!
I don't like their yogurts,full of junk- additives,fillers,etc.
So I buy my greek yogurt and most meats elsewhere, but I love Aldi for everything else!
I only buy their 'premium' oj here, it's good.
I found their dish detergent(hand) is better than some name brands- cat food is the same as at Walmart for cheaper...
bring your bags,and prepare to save money!

 

[deslynnpatterson]

I love aldi!! I go every week! I get a lot of the fit and active brand food! I have also bought the fit n active ground lean beef and turkey and have found it to be very good! We also get the chicken tenderloins ( boneless skinless) that come in a 3 pounds bag. I buy a lot of there canned goods, rice, black beans, the fit n active ice cream bars-- they have 2 kinds one is like a creamsicle and another is a wild berry I would recommend those too You will love aldi its great!

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I buy *almost* everything at Aldi- love their brand (BTW,it's a Trader Joes company)cheese,crackers,chips,fruit,veggies,ice cream(1/2 gal)flour,sugar,oil,eggs,milk,bread,etcetcetc
I don't like their frozen meats-they are cheap and add filler junk to the meats-
I do buy fresh ground beef,beef for fajitas,and pork in the meat case tho(non frozen)
I like the whole wheat bread-etc
the produce is as good as anywhere else, pick good stuff when you go!
I don't like their yogurts,full of junk- additives,fillers,etc.
So I buy my greek yogurt and most meats elsewhere, but I love Aldi for everything else!
I only buy their 'premium' oj here, it's good.
I found their dish detergent(hand) is better than some name brands- cat food is the same as at Walmart for cheaper...
bring your bags,and prepare to save money!

100% UNTRUE. This misinformation pops up in almost all the Aldi's threads. One brother owns Trader Joes one brother owns Aldi. For some things they do use the same supplier but they are not the same company & they are not a family business.

 

[njsweetP]

100% UNTRUE. This misinformation pops up in almost all the Aldi's threads. One brother owns Trader Joes one brother owns Aldi. For some things they do use the same supplier but they are not the same company & they are not a family business.

True - Aldi's is based in Germany and Trader Joe's is based in California. I don't know if I believe that they use the same supplier as Trader Joe's is much more health conscious in the ingredients they use in their products.