The Best Deals At Aldi Supermarket, Plus What Not To Buy
Aldi has been supplying people with groceries since 1946. The supermarket has expanded into 20 countries with over 10,000 locations. So, the question is, what are the best and worst bargains at this discount chain?
From less than two-dollar mayonnaise to overpriced "cheap" coffee, here are items people should buy and others they can skip over at Aldi's.
Worst: Meat
Sadly, buyers need to be warry of the meat selection at Aldi. While fish, chicken, and beef prices are fairly low compared to other grocery outlets, it isn't the best quality.
According to many shoppers on Reddit, when it comes to quality and sales, people are better off going to other stores for their meat supply Also, Aldi doesn't put their meat on sale!
Best: Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is one of those condiments that can be found in most households. It's a crowd-pleaser that can be kind of pricey, depending on the brand.
At Aldi, shoppers can find the popular spread for a bargain price. At the market, an 887 mL jar of Burman's mayonnaise sells for the low price of $1.89.
Worst: Ground Coffee
Coffee is a staple in many households, but not all coffee is created equal. While some of the cheap brands at Aldi look attractive at 17 cents an ounce, that doesn't mean it's worth buying.
In fact, the store's cheapest coffee, Daily Basics ground coffee, doesn't have a great flavor. People are better off buying a better-tasting coffee for the same price at another store.
Worst: Aldi Soda And Other Name-Brand Soft Drinks
Aldi has a knockoff soda brand for a stellar price, but that doesn't mean it's worth purchasing. In fact, many people have said that the knockoff brands are flat compared to the big-name soft drinks, such as Coke and Sprite.
Shoppers are better off buying their sodas at other grocery stores and skipping over the Aldi soda disappointment.
Best: Never Any! Chicken Breasts
Aldi has a great selection of chicken, particularly the Never Any! brand. Nutrition director Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, advocates for the brand, saying, "[the brand] demonstrates a commitment to ensuring high-quality meat and poultry products through ethical agricultural practices."
If that wasn't enough, the fact that Never Any! Chicken Breasts only cost $4.29 per pound should make it easy for shoppers to add this product to their grocery list.
Worst: Produce
Fresh produce is a hit or miss at Aldi, so it is best to proceed with caution and common sense when shopping for perishables. While the prices look attractive, many shoppers have said to go home only to find that the bottom of their strawberry container is full of rotten fruit.
In 2015, a Consumer Reports survey stated the store received pretty low markings when it came to perishable items.
Worst: Frozen Sushi
When reviews talk about a product as "it's edible," chances are it is best to skip over it altogether. This is the case for Aldi frozen sushi. While it is cheap, Fusia Shrimp and Avocado Roll cost $4.99, the quality of the sushi is nothing compared to something people would find at a good restaurant.
Save the five dollars and grab a California Roll elsewhere.
Best: Specialty Cheeses
Specialty and gourmet cheeses can cost a pretty penny at supermarkets. At Aldi, it is one of the better things to purchase, as a majority of their cheese runs from two to five dollars, a bargain!
That being said, the quantity of cheese tends to be smaller than in other grocery stores.
Best: Seasonal Items
One aisle people shouldn't pass in Aldi is their seasonal items aisle. Aldi has great deals on time-sensitive items, such as hammocks for the springtime and holiday decorations for the winter.
Typically, these items are sold at an attractive price, making Aldi seasonal items a great bargain compared to other stores.
Best: Millville Frosted Flakes
Kellog's Frosted Flakes cereal is a crowd-pleaser that can get pretty expensive at stores. Thankfully, Aldi sells Millville Frosted Flakes that, amazingly, pretty much have identical ingredients to Kellogs, and at a cheaper price!
While Kellog's typically runs just under five dollars per box, Millville Frosted Flakes are just under two dollars.
Best: Spices
When it comes to purchasing dried spices, there is no better grocery store to buy them than Aldi. With a quality equal to that of big-name brands such as McCormick, Aldi Stonemill spices are only 95 cents per container.
That is a lot more attractive of a price than something close to eight dollars!
Best: Canned Goods
Purchasing canned goods at Aldi is nothing short of a great bargain. With a quality close to that of big-name brands at larger supermarkets, anything from canned tuna fish to vegetables should be on people's shopping lists.
And that's not to mention the low prices! According to Tough Nickle, A five-ounce can of Northern Catch Chunk Light Tuna in Oil only costs 79 cents.
Worst: Toiletries
While there are plenty of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant, at Aldi, that doesn't mean shoppers should go there to stock up. In fact, one reviewer compared Aldi prices to Target, finding the latter actually to be a bit cheaper.
The revieAldi'sote, "a liter-size bottle of Aldi's DentiguarTarget'sash was 10 cents more than TargeTarget'se brand, Up & Up. Throw in Target's better selection, frequent sales, and REDcard discounts, and it makes more sense to stock up there."
Best: Raspberry Lemon Spiked Lemonade
Only sold during the summertime, Raspberry Lemon Spiked Lemonade from Aldi is a great deal. Not only is it refreshing, but the adult beverage is sold in six 12-ounce cans for only $6.99.
Again, it is only sold during the one season, so the product does sell out very fast!
Best: European Sweets
Since Aldi is originally a German family market, shoppers should keep in mind their wide variety of delicious European sweets, particularly chocolate! It is one of the better bargains at the store, especially compared to other stores' prices.
A large 4.4 oz bar of chocolate only costs a low $1.99!
Worst: Chips
Yes, Aldi has a nice variety of chips to choose from. It just doesn't mean shoppers should go there to purchase the snack. At a low price of $1.79, Aldi Clancy chips do look like a bargain.
But when compared to the taste of other major brands, such as Lays, the low price is not worth the lack of quality.
Best: Baking Products
According to My Recipes, shoppers won't have to go to another grocery store for baking supplies after making an Aldi run. The supermarket has everything from flour to coconut flakes at an extremely reasonable price.
The website says that coconut flakes, almond bark, and sprinkles are all priced under three dollars!
Best: Take-And-Bake Pizza
Mama Cozi's pizzas are one of the overlooked products at Aldi that should get way more attention. Not only are they priced between $4 and $6.99, but these pizzas are absolutely massive.
According to a reviewer at The Kitchn, " Unlike most frozen pizzas, these once-frozen-now-refrigerated pizzas don't taste like freezer-burned cardboard. The toppings really cover every inch, and they taste pretty close to fresh."
Worst: Butter
Aldi is not the right store when it comes to purchasing butter. The price of butter at Aldi is fairly low, between two and three dollars, depending on the type and brand.
Reviewers say that it is not worth it, though, as the quality is very poor compared to other leading brands.
Best: German Beer
As a German-founded supermarket, it only makes sense that Aldi has a lovely selection of beer to choose from, particularly German beer. According to shoppers, the beer is not only delicious but, for an import, the price is just right.
According to Kiplinger, "A six-pack of Broegel Bock Beer goes for $6.99..."
Best: Wine
One of the best and most affordable products to buy at Aldi is wine. A vast majority of the bottles are less than $10, a fantastic price for a wine that actually tastes good.
According to Reverse Wine Snob, the supermarket also has a wide array of wines to choose from, with the Stormchaser Wild Ride Red being one of the best.
Best: Milk
Milk can run up to three dollars per gallon at other grocery stores. That's a hefty price when compared to Aldi prices. The supermarket sells a gallon of their Friendly Farms whole milk for only $2.48.
Compared to Walmart's Great Value milk at $2.53 or Giant selling their milk for $3.29, Aldi is clearly a bargain.
Best: Bread
Whether it's a loaf of bread, English muffins, or bagels, Aldi is the place to find the bargain. According to Kiplinger, where other leading stores sell bread for almost two dollars, Aldi's L'oven Fresh white bread is only 85 cents.
The source compares that price to both Walmart's same-size loaf that sells for 88 cents and Giant's for $1.89!
Worst: Kitty Litter
Kitty litter might be a necessity for cat owners, but there are better places to purchase the product than Aldi. At this particular supermarket, kitty litter might look like an absolute steal when looking at the price, but it's the quality that has shoppers leaving mixed reviews.
In one review, the buyer said the product was dusty, and they had to re-think the formula.
Best: Village Bakery Triple Chocolate Crème Cake
For those shoppers who have a family full of sweet-toothed people, don't overlook the Village Bakery Triple Chocolate Crème Cake at Aldi. Not only is this cake full of delicious chocolate, but it comes at a bargain price of $3.29.
That's also just the beginning of yummy desserts in Aldi's Village Bakery section.
Best: Frozen Fruits
It is always a good idea to have frozen fruit in the freezer. And Aldi has a solid variety of frozen fruit mixes to make any smoothie delicious. Even better, the quality is superb.
According to one shopper via Mashable, "They're very easy to use over cereal or to defrost and eat plain, contain plenty of that fiber we were talking about, and taste just as fresh and sweet as the real deal."
Worst: Toilet Paper And Paper Towels
At first glance, toilet paper and paper towels found at Aldi might seem like a bargain, but they aren't much cheaper than the leading brands at other stores.
According to Kiplinger, "Once you stack frequent shopper discounts or manufacturer coupons on top of those low prices, the big chains sometimes come out ahead,"
Worst: Clothing
Honestly, shopping for clothing at a supermarket is always a toss-up, and Aldi is no different. It is hard to gauge the quality of the product, particularly because Aldi packages adult clothing using cardboard or ribbon.
One buyer wrote, "It can be difficult to know what you're getting because you can't easily hold a shirt up to examine the dimensions." Pretty much, clothing at Aldi isn't worth the low price.
Best: Peanut Butter
Aldi not only has a wide variety of peanut butter, everything from Peanut Delight Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread to Simply Nature Organic Creamy Peanut Butter, but they also sell them at an affordable price.
Whether it's a budget-friendly brand or something a bit pricier, Aldi's peanut butter selection has something for everyone.
Worst: Mini Bear Grahams
All Aldi shoppers should do themselves a favor and skip purchasing Mini Bear Grahams. While they look similar to the popular Teddy Grahams at other stores, this knockoff brand lacks a certain amount of quality, according to reviewers.
On an Aldi Reddit thread, one reviewer wrote, "I bought their generic Goldfish crackers (penguins) and knockoff Teddy Grahams, and they were completely inedible."