Aldi's favorites

kathyg_in_mi

3 years ago

I just started going to Aldi's last winter when we were in Florida.

Have found 2 things I love.

The big, thick Aldi's cold stuff bag, only $7.99 each. I saw a similar one at Burlington Coat factory $19.99.

And their blueberry muffins, so moist and full of blueberries!

Aldi's is 2 hours from me up here in northern Michigan.

So all you Aldi's shoppers tell me your favorites, I'll be there next week!

Kathy G in MI

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summersrhythm_z6a

3 years ago

Garden soil is only $3.50 per bag.

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Comments (52)

Kathsgrdn
3 years ago
The cranberry/almond chicken salad is pretty good. I also like the goat cheese topped with vanilla blueberry topping.
kathyg_in_mi thanked Kathsgrdn
phyllis__mn
3 years ago
We're getting an Aldi's next town over, about ten miles away, and I'm so happy about it. I like their produce, and that I can buy small amounts of it. Their prices are great.
kathyg_in_mi thanked phyllis__mn
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You gotta admit, people are strange. They'll complain about a 25 deposit (which you get back when you return the cart) at Aldi's, yet think nothing of paying $30-$50 to walk into Costco or Sams! And there you DON'T get your deposit back! I'd go to Aldi far more often if it was more conveniently located for me but I still go there occasionally. You have to know your prices because not everything is a bargain, but I still like the stores. It's sort of a garage sale trip because you never know for sure what they'll have. So if you like something and they have it, you might want to stock up because it might be a long time before you get it again. I've always seen good produce and excellent meat. Meat prices are fair, but quality is excellent. I always caution people that you probably won't be able to do all your shopping there (but then again, same applies to the warehouse clubs) but considering the savings, it's worth the trip for me. Every store can have a section, especially produce, picked over so one trip during a busy time is a bad way to judge a small store. Even big places aren't always well-stocked. I'm not crazy about the canned goods I've gotten there. I can usually do better on sales at the other stores. I do buy some junk food but eggs, milk, bagged salad are almost always far cheaper than anywhere else. They have a frozen pecan pie that's the best I've had, but again, they don't have it often. There's a frozen pizza that is actually quite good and they have pork sausage patties that are the best I can buy. They have a 12 grain bread that is great and much cheaper than at other stores and they have gourmet cookies that are great. I also like the muffins and bread sticks. Their spaghetti sauce is fairly cheap but only mediocre. They have an excellent pizza sauce, at least that I like, although it's more expensive. They often have excellent and cheap fruit and I've never been disappointed in their grapes. I don't know where they get them but I seldom find grapes that good in the other grocery stores. I usually make a trip there when I need sausage. I consider it a "Mini Walmart" since both stores I bring a list and seldom get everything on the list. They just don't have it all the time. Product mix changes often. I really like the size of the store. I can handle it. However it gets packed and people buy a lot of items there so you might have a wait at the checkout on busy days. They've extended their hours so that's an improvement. Their cleaners are generic/store brand like you get anywhere else and the prices are OK, but not great. I can generally do better on cleaners at Walgreens or Target but I bought some bleach there that was a reasonable price and face it, bleach is bleach for my use. I think a lot of people who have big disappointments about Aldi might have some unreasonable expectations. They will not always be cheaper on everything, no different than any other store. They will not carry the variety that Walmart will carry. They do require cash since margins are slim. If you go in expecting too much, you'll be disappointed. I wish they had more consistent inventory, a few more items, but there's a price to be paid. Again, it's a store for some of your shopping. I made up a list of things I like and didn't like there and consult that before going to the store. I also track where there's better prices. By knowing prices I know if I'm getting a good deal or not. I hope other stores pay attention that a neighborhood grocery store CAN survive in today's market. I'd like to see the small corner grocery store come back. Otherwise I might just go to the delivery services. They're actually a reasonable alternative. I say GOOD FOR THE CASHIERS! to be able to sit. The cash only is an inconvenience but I understand not wanting the check & credit card losses when you're working on such slim margins. The deposit for the cart? Brilliant! Saves labor and wear and tear on the carts. Yes it's slightly inconvenient to walk to the side of the building but I'm OK with that. Often I'll see someone loading their car near me and just give them a quarter and take the cart - saves them from walking back and forth again and saves me time and walking too. It's a unique store with very unique sales approaches. I find their history to be interesting. This is not a new store by any means. Oh, and yes, if you will only shop Whole Foods, you won't like Aldi!
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It's an interesting place isn't it? And I think it has an interesting history. All started from a mom-n-pop store way back when and the two brothers eventually took over. Trader Joe's and Aldi (short for Albrect Distributing) were split off because the two brothers got in a fight over cigarettes. There's stuff I really like, stuff that's perfectly fine and much cheaper than anywhere else, stuff that's average and comparable in price and stuff that's well, garbage and even sometimes overpriced. The ads are misleading at times. They don't always get in the items they're supposed to and sometimes they get the stuff early. So you never really know what you're going to find there. It's not a store where you'll do all your shopping, but it certainly give you the chance to spend a lot less. Enjoy your adventures! Oh, and doesn't it just make you burn about the price of spices???
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For those of you who have a problem with no shopping bags given at Aldi's, are you aware of the fact that you ARE paying for them at the regular grocery stores? I'm not sure about now, but the regular grocery stores used to take of about 5 cents per bag I brought of my own. Since all my tote bags disappeared a few years ago cause they got used for other things and not put back, I got out of the habit of taking my own bags, so I don't know if they will still take off for them. As to the quarter for the shopping cart, I think it's a great idea. I very seldom have a cart in the lot to worry about hitting my car. I don't like the paper products, except for the TP for use in the camper. I find them rather thin. The milk and eggs have been rather high priced lately. As with anywhere else, I have to read labels carefully due to my garlic allergy. (Which reminds me I need to email Vlassic, who doesn't have garlic on the ingredients list, ut has it in the pickles!) DH hasn't complained about the Salmon. I don't eat it, so I don't know. I buy my tomato paste there and canned mushrooms. Legos were a great price a couple of weeks before Christmas, but I didn't get there to get any before they were gone. Darn. Bought a LOT of Legos for DGS for Christmas! I seldom have a problem with thier produce, and it's usually a good price. Tami
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arkansas_girl, and I only say this because I care, they have decaffeinated brands now that taste just as good as regular! :) lydia1959, While they don't carry Fritos® *brand*, they do carry corn chips, their generic/store brand is Clancy's. And no they don't carry Diet Rite® brand cola, again, they have their own diet cola. They have very few brand name items however quite regularly have Oscar Meyer® bacon, Miracle Whip® salad dressing and a few other name brands at times but the whole point of the store is that about 95% of the products are generic/store brands. One rep said they will get a brand name if they can't get the quality or price they want or they just won't carry it. They guarantee the items so if you don't like it, they'll refund your money and replace the item on most items. Since you want brand name items, discount stores like these are not for you. I've found some of their products to be better than brand names, most are equal to and a few are not as good IMO. But I'm not a brand-loyal person on too many things so I find Aldi and the comparable type stores to be great. Keep in mind the average Aldi carries about 1400 SKUs so they're obviously not going to have as big an assortment of major things. They also go for items they get the right price and the right quality so produce can be hit and miss. Aldi is a store you shop first then go to another store to pick up the things like zucchini. Onions will vary. Sometimes they'll have red but sometimes they'll have white or yellow. Again, it varies. If you want a *guarantee* they'll have a particular type, then it's not for you. But then, no store can guarantee it! LOL (I see more out of stocks and perpetual OOSs at Malwart than any other store.) I'm surprised about the salsa. Around here they always have it and it's usually in the aisle as you come into the store, by the chips. Casa Mamita is their brand name, however if you're going to look for a variety of "heat" and a variety of flavor, don't expect it. Generally they carry one of each types. Green onions are hit and miss. Generally I think it's because they spoil quite quickly so I seldom see them there. Shredded cheese is in the cooler, most stores it's against the back wall with salads, sausage, milk, eggs, sour cream, etc. You need to get used to what they *have*, and know they will *not* have 50,000 to 80,00 SKUs as a large grocery store nor 100,000+ SKUs like a super center to cover all needs. (In fact, that's one of their advertising bits You don't have to search through aisles of camping gear to find your ketchup.) Nor will a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods for that matter. People that shop these stores realize they're not going to get *everything* in one stop. They're specialty stores. Whole Foods for "natural" stuff, TJ's for yuppy stuff and Aldi for low priced staples. I'm not surprised you didn't find green onions, red onion, zucchini and canned green chiles. They do carry a substitute "Rotel" tomato and chilis though. And of course your brand names are pretty much a given, though they do carry diet cola and corn chips, though not the flavor you were looking for. Frankly you could simplify your trip for those two things by picking them up when you get gas and you're not really doing an additional store. Most gas stations carry Diet Rite and Fritos. I'm very surprised you didn't find salsa and shredded cheese. I take it you didn't ask someone about it? I started making a list of things they have that I would buy. I check my Aldi List before going there, then do an Aldi trip. Although I pretty much do the same for any other store. I keep a price log so I know which stores have better prices on certain things. Keep in mind, Aldi is about a 10,000 square foot store with about 1400 SKUs as mentioned. They cannot physically carry the variety an 80,000 sq ft common grocery store would nor a 130,000-150,000 sq ft "super store". Their model is to carry bargain basics and some special things. An air conditioner for $60, cast iron pans for $30 and under, flash drives cheap, lawn chairs, and more. But they won't have it all the time. I consider it garage sale shopping in that you never know for sure what you can get, just like I experience at Malwart for that matter! LOL All stores run out. Not all stores carry "everything". They can't. No one store is for everyone, that's why there's so many. And as I mentioned earlier, rumor has it that Aldi gets its pop/soda from Dr Pepper Snapple Group, who make Diet Rite. Can't verify this yet, but wouldn't surprise me. BTW, while they don't carry a 100' aisle of various breads, they carry white, wheat, a few buns, and they also have a 12 grain bread that I really like and it's about $1.69. Considering the comparable bread at any other store is $3-$4 there's times I'll make a stop just for a few things that they have that I like better or save me lot. I don't like having to stop at multiple stores to get what I want, but unfortunately these days it's nearly a requirement. I can't get decent produce at a Walmart here, they just don't have it in stock or the quality is SO poor I wouldn't feed it to farm animals. (They don't get anything locally.) Cub and Rainbow are hit and miss. When Aldi has produce, I've had 95% good luck with the quality and of course the prices are substantially less. I got used to the Aldi concept long before Aldi came into this area. We had a store called Save-A-Lot owned by Nash Finch and it basically was the same concept. No frills, bag your own, store brand mostly and closeouts/special purchases. Again, not the place to buy everything but a great place to save money. I was saddened to see them close but I understand when they saw Aldi moving in, they gave up and closed the doors.
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colleenoz
3 years ago
I love their sliced cheeses (especially the Butterkase) and meats. Their other cheeses are good as well. Their coconut cream is excellent, better and cheaper than any others.
arkansas girl
3 years ago
ALDI mention reminds me that my BIL that always shopped at Giant Eagle for years has recently found himself on a tight budget, he told us as if he'd discovered something, that he has started shopping at ALDI and just couldn't get over how cheap it was. He said he checked out and was given the total and thought "that can't be right, for all this!!!!!" Giant Eagle is very expensive compared to ALDI. He also liked that it was small and he would get in and get out in no time flat!
salonva
3 years ago
I'm not sure where to start. When I first went to Aldi's I didn't really care for it. Now, I go at least once a week,and often more. Yes, their prices are generally excellent.

They sell a big tub of pretzel logs for $5.49. Most other places it's like $7.99

Their dairy is great. I buy their yogurt, cottage cheese, sliced cheess and butter.

Their produce is great. We buy the tub of spring mix and theirs is always fresh ( and cheap) and lasts a good amount of time.

Also they have their own brand of mayo, Burman's. I decided to try it. We were a Hellmann's only family but this one is as close to 'Hellmann's as any. I've been converting my friends and family to it. :

I buy Flax Seed there for way cheaper than most places, and canola oil too is cheaper.

The Aldi's I go to now, is right near a Lidl and they have wonderful price wars.

Aldi's is opening another store nearer to me, probably about 4 miles away. It's supposed to open end of this month. I can't wait.
functionthenlook
3 years ago
I have 2 Aldi's about 3 miles from me. I like their Applewood spiral hams. I can't tell the difference between their ketchup and Heinz. I still buy Heinz because it is sacrilege to live in Pittsburgh and not have Heinz. I use the Aldi's ketchup in recipes. Burman mayonnaise and their peanut butter is also good. I'm gluten intolerant and I prefer their GF products. My grands like their French onion dip and sour cream

the best. Their regular everyday paper plates are the best . Aldi's is my primary store to shop. What they don't have, I go to Walmart across the street.
summersrhythm_z6a
3 years ago
Just bought 6 geranium hanging baskets from Aldi’s for $7.99 each. Tops is selling $24.99 for the same size flower hanging baskets.
lily316
3 years ago
I live 1/4 mile from Aldi and the same distance from Trader Joe's so I'm lucky. I hit both places on Monday and at Aldi, I get their ground turkey, salmon, canned dog food,(which I won't be getting any more) canned soups my husband likes, and brioche rolls. I'm in and out in five minutes. But Traders is more fun. I did get a hanging basket at Aldi for $7.99 too.
arcy_gw
3 years ago
Whatever it is you LOVE there you can't count on getting every time. That's would be my big frustration if I lived so far away. I find I don't go weekly because they don't open until 9. I can hit two local stores and be home before 7 as a rule. I love the Carmel Macchiato coffee creamer. Forget trying to find it during any holiday shopping season. Aldi's is our go to for ALL THINGS charcuterie and yes the goat cheese is amazing, but we put our own homemade pepper jelly over top. They sell a line of simmer sauces for chicken that we enjoy when needing a quick prep meal. Butter Chicken is our favorite. I make sure I have their 5lb Jasmine rice bag always in my pantry. I also always have one or two boxes of their Gyros kits in my freezer. Five sandwiches for the price of one at a food truck you can't beat!! Almost forgot DH's cereal. Their brand of cold cereal is high in fiber (DH needs) and until recently was under $1.50 a box!! It's up to a whopping $1.75 so still can't be beat and it comes IN A BOX still.
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
3 years ago
I like many things at Aldi. I look forward to the surprises that I find in the 'Aldi finds' frozen section. Their dry sea scallops are excellent but I don't buy them as often as I did pre-covid when they were $10 instead of the current $14. I buy the sausage-egg-cheese croissant breakfast sandwiches to take to work. I like their shrimp tempura, lasagna, chips, produce, nuts, candy, cheese selection.

I don't like their bossy self checkout stations. It seems that it expects me to scan things as fast as their checkers.
Judy Good
3 years ago
Lots of things. Great cheese selection, good wine for under $3 a bottle, French bread, pasta sauces and I could go on and on.
Rho Dodendron
3 years ago
Grahm crackers! I started to buy them due to price but now Aldis Grahms taste better than Nabisco. And their greeting cards with popups and 3-D features look quite upscale.
Alisande
3 years ago
I don't shop there because it's off my beaten path, but your posts make me want to take a look. I seem to recall that Aldi has its own way of doing things. What's the story on shopping carts and grocery bags?
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
3 years ago
Alisande - you have to check out the shopping carts with a quarter and when you take it back to the cart area you get the quarter back. It saves them from having to hire a worker to gather them up in the parking lot.

They sell both plastic and paper bags for under $0.10 and nicer bags pretty cheap. Most people bring their own bags and/or use empty boxes that they find in the store. A little like Cosco in that regard.
ci_lantro
3 years ago
Current favorite is Aldi 'Indulgent Greek' yoghurt--the lemon flavor.
lily316
3 years ago
I use all the empty cardboard boxes to haul my food home. They're available everywhere in the store.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
3 years ago
Their roasted red pepper & artichoke, and olive, tapenades are staples in my pantry. I use them (along with traditional pesto) to create my pizzas. I wish they would start selling plain cauliflower pizza crusts - but I have tried their cauliflower crust pizza and it is pretty good (and much less $ than Caulipower brand).

My DD is a huge fan of their BangBang sauce.
salonva
3 years ago
I don't mind the 25 cents for the shopping cart but I always have trouble with it so I just bring fabric bags in and use that to store what I want as I shop - then use them to repack.
lily316
3 years ago
The 25 cents is returned.
Kathsgrdn
3 years ago
I've been snacking on their whole cashews this week and they're very good.
joann_fl
3 years ago
I've been buying Pur Aqua water enhancer for my drinking water. I have tried almost all the flavors and I find the Orange Tangerine the best so far. I have not found it anywhere else. I also like the artisan flat bread to use as my pizza crust. Its very good and easy to make pizzas.
Kathsgrdn
3 years ago
I just tried the Herring Fillets in curry and pineapple sauce and it's delicious! Now I need to go pick up some more.
matthias_lang
3 years ago
In December we always buy their very large stollen. World Market sells the same stollen, but smaller and at a higher price.
bragu_DSM 5
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Their happy farms sliced cheeses ... gouda, havarti, provolone etc are good for sammys or melting atop lasagna, pasta etc. 21 grain bread for 2,29 a loaf. Their girl scout knockoff cookies are good. spices (mccormick brand) many of the basics for 99 cents, milk and eggs are back down again.Their german chocolate bars are good ... and the weekly deals are always fun.
ci_lantro
3 years ago
Mention of candy reminds me that the dark chocolate cocoa dusted truffles from Aldi are wonderful. But available only around Christmas time. Maybe a good thing?
eld6161
3 years ago
I've gone twice, while in Florida. I didn't like how the store was set up. I didn't see my usual brands but what looked like copies. Hellman’s mayo look alike jar etc.

Maybe when I head back I’ll take photos. Maybe you all know the brands.
salonva
3 years ago
Yes, eld, they occasionally have national brands but most often it's their own brand, which from my sampling is really good. (I particularly recommend their look alike to Hellmanns which is Burman's mayo). It took me a while to be daring and try but 95% of the products I've tried have been very good.
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
3 years ago
A lot of Aldi brands are made by national brands. Aldi's Clancy brand potato chips are made by Old Dutch. Their cereals are made by Post. The bakery products are made by Bimbo Brands which is the company the make Sara Lee, Natures Harvest, and Boboli.
ci_lantro
3 years ago
There are very few name brands in Aldi. For the most part (or entirely), the name brands are special buys and not a regularly stocked item. FWIW, one of our favorites is Aldi's Chicken & Sausage gumbo soup. It is indistinguishable from the Campbells version. (As is WalMart's private label version of same.)

I've been shopping Aldi for many years. In all that time, I've purchased only one item that wasn't good...the Aldi knock-off of Little Debbie's Nutty Buddy bars. That was years ago; I haven't been brave enough to try them again. Knowing now that I have gluten intolerance, I'm not tempted to experiment.
lily316
3 years ago
My husband likes their German soups and said their generic cereals are better than the name brands. I don't eat cereal. He also likes all their many crackers. Their "girl scout" cookies made by Benton are excellent. I used to go nuts for their five-seeded bread but found one I like better at Trader Joe's.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
3 years ago
Fun fact: both Trader Joe's and Aldi contract with manufacturers to make their store label products. It's not something any of the parties involved want widely known, since those manufacturers wouldn't like consumers to learn they're paying more for the famous label brands. Aldi uses a number of different labels for their stuff, while TJs uses their store name, sometimes with cutesy twists, like Trader Giotto's for their Italian items.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
3 years ago
Way back when, rumor had it that many of Kroger's store label items also were made by major manufacturers - like P&G. Kroger coffee was thought to be rebranded Folger's, for one. So Aldi & TJ's are not unique in this.
lily316
3 years ago
As I said I live less than 1/2 mile from both Aldi and TJs and go to both on Monday one after the other. I'm in and out of Aldi in less than ten minutes but I'm in Traders much longer. The vibes in the two stores are so different. Aldi employees sometimes don't even acknowledge you as they check you out, but Traders is an experience with friendly workers everywhere. Prices are mostly competitive except today avocados were 69 cents at Aldi and $1.69 at TJs.
lisa_fla
3 years ago
There are FB groups for Aldi likes/dislikes, new items, recipes. One is Aldi Aisle of Shame Community and another is Aldi Insiders.

The frozen apple strudel is very good. I also like the frozen lemonade bars in the summer. I buy the organic olive oil. My son likes the chocolate almond milk ice cream. I like their version of Chex cereal.
lily316
3 years ago
I like those lemonade bars too and I also get their organic olive oil.
bragu_DSM 5
3 years ago
Their jams are good too.
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
If you like jam, I think Bonne Maman brand is much better. I bought plum at Aldi and tossed it.
Rho Dodendron
3 years ago
*I* tossed Bonne Maman jam.....................................
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
What kind do you think is better?
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
Hit and run - too bad. I was hoping to get a recommendation.
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
3 years ago
Elmer - homemade jam is better.
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
lonejack, that isn't something we do or have an interest in doing. I get homemade jam as gifts every now and then, some has been okay, some less so.
Rho Dodendron
3 years ago
Ahem---let's get back to the discussion about what we DO like at Aldis. Not jam, not crtisizing anyone for liking something.
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I didn't criticize anyone, I disagreed and offered a different opinion. There was no personal comment involved.

Do you have a preference to Bonne Maman, or did you say what you did simply to be sarcastic?
salonva
3 years ago
Anyway great news to share. The Aldi's that was supposed to open at the end of the month is open! This is the one that's less than 5 miles away. Sooooooo excited.
PRO
beesneeds
3 years ago
We get a lot of cheese and coffee at Aldi. Their canned mushrooms and fresh eggs are usually less expensive than most of the other area stores. Their produce is usually very nice and less expensive than other area stores. I've gotten several and really like their greenhouses and caps, right handy things. A lot of their German products are good, the big canned soups and dry spatzle are almost always in our pantry. I love the Aldi's finds of food and merch. Always fun to browse through even if I when I don't buy.
salonva
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I meant to mentioin that while I always browse their "other merchandise aisles" I don't usually find anything to buy other food. However, last week I bough a shepherd's hook for I think $6.99,

This week, in some of the stores they have a knock off of a Bogg tote. I have not seen it ( but will look when I go today to the new store) and never heard of it but my daughter was all excited and asked me to please get her one if I see it. It's $23 if I can find it.. On my local FB page, people are going crazy for it. I know my daughter really wants it for her beach vacation .

Well, edited to add that the Aldi's near me is not open. That was a false report lol. Still end of the month.

So I did go to another one a bit further and they did not have the bags. Oh well. I agree they seem pricey but the big ones are great and for 4 kids on a beach vacation, it seems ideal for packing everything along.
PRO
beesneeds
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Those are cute garden bags, I could see them being nice apple picking bags. I bet you can run the garden hose on those. I don't know about the 23 dollars though, that's a bit steep for cute garden bag for my taste. A hundred bucks for the brand name is for sure too much for me to spend on a garden bag. Even as a cute beach bag that would be pretty steep to me.

I've been tempted by the garden bench too. But I can't really justify since I don't need one, lol.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
3 years ago
I was tempted by these ceramic baking dishes yesterday. Just so visually appealing to me (especially the blue ones) - but I do not need more baking dishes!!

I think I will stop back for the 4 panel plant support though, I can use that to help corral one of my roses.

Aldi's favorites

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