Amy at MomAdvice is doing a review of her Grocery Game trial. She’s a big Aldi fan (the Aldi Queen, in fact), so I’ll really be interested to hear what she has to say.
In celebration and solidarity, I thought I’d do another shamelessly commercial Thursday Thirteen to share my love for all things Aldi.
While doing random research for this post, I discovered that Trader Joe’s and Aldi are kissin’ cousins, which comes as no surprise to this gal. Some of my favorite products at Aldi, I once purchased at Trader Joe’s. I was especially glad when I stopped having to trek over to TJ’s for #3. Don’t get me wrong, I still head over every once in a while for a special treat, but it’s definitely something I do for special occasions rather than routine shops.
In my very unscientific trial, I am finding that I can often get things cheaper at Meijer using my Grocery Game list. But I do love many Aldi items, and their prices usually cannot be beat if you don’t combine sales with coupons. Here, in no particular order, are some of my faves:
- Milk and Honey hand soap
- Jasmine rice
- Frozen ‘haricot verts’-style green beans
- Canned baked beans
- Dee-licious canned corn
- Cat litter
- Tandil oxygen activated stain remover (don’t make me live without this)
- Their version of the Magic Eraser sponge (you need one)
- Apple juice (It is not pretty if we run out of apple juice in this house)
- Chex-style snack mix (I occasionally run out of this just on principal)
- Peppercorn potato chips (heaven)
- Ground turkey (haven’t found a better price)
- I love their frozen “crispy” chicken (combined with mashed potatoes and green beans for a quick, easy, comforting, kid-friendly meal)
I must confess that I’ve never shopped at Aldi but your list makes me think I should take a look. Thanks for sharing!
I love Aldi’s! They just opened one up near my house. I can’t get everything I need there (I don’t purchase things with HFCS or hydrogenated oils as a rule, so that eliminates most of their packaged goods–but not all!). They have so many great deals. I have been pleased with the quality of the items so far. Their Fit n Active line is good–the strawberry jam is excellent.
You know that middle-of-the-week run for groceries that kills your budget every time? You just need milk, eggs, maybe a few spare ingredients or something you’re running out of? I made one of those runs today at Aldi and it only cost me 34.44. And here is what I got:
7 perfect peaches–3.15
Baby wipes–1.95
Brown sugar–1.19
4 smoked bratwurst sausages–2.29
1 large bar dark chocolate–1.69
1 large bar milk chocolate with almonds–1.29
1/2 gal. orange juice NFC–2.39
Imported apple strudel–2.69
Imported apple-berry strudel–2.69
Large bag fish sticks–2.99
Multi-grain waffles–1.29
Lemon juice–1.85
Dishwasher gel–2.69
HUGE can of oatmeal–1.79
Frozen french style green beans–1.39
2 nice green peppers–1.29
large jug bleach–1.29
All that for 34.44 inc. tax! As you can see, I got more items than I really went in for. I was really just going for dishwasher gel, brown sugar, oatmeal, bleach, the brats (which were on sale) waffles, and oj. But with those prices, I got the other items, too, knowing it was going to make the rest of the week easier. I have company coming and wanted the strudels for dessert, for example.
The produce was all U.S. grown. The frozen green beans were from France! The imported frozen strudel from Germany–their “Deutch Kuche” brand. All products were regular-sized or larger–no small, wimpy containers here! The dishwashing gel, for example, was the really large jug, not the little tiny one that usually costs $3.99 at the grocery store.
I also have to put in a plug for their chocolate. They sell the “Chocoeur” brand and the “Moser-Roth” brand. Both from Austria I believe (or Germany). To die for! I love fine chocolate, and these are every bit as good as Lindt and other imported brands. Try them–the price is as amazing as the taste!
I absolutely love Aldi so far and can see myself doing a very significant chunk of my shopping there.
Oh. My. Word.
Aldi frozen pizza–at $1.99 each–is a staple here! Seriously–what do the rest of y’all eat when you don’t feel like cooking? Or when your oldest is home alone babysitting–what else would he feed the younger set?? We have it twice a week, probably.
Moose Tracks ice cream.
Cheese. In all forms.
Spring greens.
Vanilla yogurt–we mix it half & half with plain, plus Aldi granola and Aldi canned tropical fruit salad.
Tilapia–in the frozen bags. Chicken breasts, too, of course.
Cereal. Boxes and boxes of it.
Blue corn tortilla chips.
I’ll stop there!
Jeanne
Okay, I’m already jealous that we don’t have any CVS stores here, but now I’m pea green with envy because we don’t have Aldi either. Or Trader Joe’s. Good grief, I am totally depressed.
Never heard of an Aldi store. I am with Meredith . . . I NEED Trader Joe’s. I have a CVS (and am unimpressed) but I need my Trader Joe’s!!!
ALDI also has a great career training program.
LOVE Trader Joes freeze dried strawberry’s I can and have ate 2 of those containers in one day. Hmmm, maybe that’s a bad thing but they tasted sooooo good!
Take care,
Amy
I love shopping at aldi and this is why-
-milk@2.49/gal
-cereal@1.79/box
-coffee-(their brand which is quite good) 35oz @4.29
-100% pure beef quarterpounders-12/5.99
-any type of storage bags-1.99- you get a lot for $2
-their strawberries are great- you can usually use the
WHOLE container
-ice cream 1.99
_ they carry at my aldi “Motts” sliced apples that are perfect for lunchboxes. you get 8 packages for 2.49
the best deals at Aldi are the non food items
I bought beanbag chairs for $14.99
Trader Joes is coming in about a month and I can’t wait for my first day that i have both littla angels in school so I can roam uninterrupted for a few hours
happy shopping
I am a HUGE Aldi fan after a friend swore by it for inexpensive but great tasting groceries. Some of my favorites are:
1. Strawberry Jello
2. Milk (always cheaper!)
3. Shredded Coconut (seasonal, but always cheaper when they have it)
4. Peanut Butter and Jelly (like Goober Jelly, except I hate that it’s grape, but my son loves it)
5. Cereal (so cheap!)
6. Macaroni and Cheese (the deluxe kind, it’s the BEST out there and I can’t eat any other kind now)
7. Bagged Salad
8. Chicken Salad
9. Ground Turkey
10. Shredded Cheeses
11. Ice Cream sandwiches (like skinny cow)
I just began shopping at an Aldi near my home that opened up in October 2008. So far, here are my takes on some of their products:
Blue corn tortillas are a must. Their regular round tortilla chips are also quite good.
Salsa is very cheap but not spicy. Better as an ingredient than a dip.
Faux Wheat Thins and Triscuts are great.
Eggs are the best price around (I live in CT), although sometimes they are set to expire in about a week, which isn’t very good. Make sure you check.
Cheese is good as an ingredient (I usually just shred the cheddar in my food processor, although they do sell pre-shredded.). However, as a straight up snack, it is very bland. Generic store brands are usually much better.
Cereal is a great deal, but I wish they sold an organic variety (just b/c it tastes better).
Milk is a great deal, but they never have skim at my store (I saw it at another one one time though)
For the basics: Flour, Sugar, Corn Starch, Pepper, Salt, etc. they cannot be beat. If there is one reason to shop at Aldi, this is it. You may only go twice a year, but you can really save a lot on this stuff if you are like me and like to cook from scratch.
Frozen food: great deals all-around, although I don’t usually buy frozen entrees so I can’t comment on most. Their fish (Salmon, Mahi-Mahi, Tilapia, White Fish) is ridiculously cheap, but it is not top-notch in quality by any means. I prepare most of my dog’s food, however, and the Salmon or White fish makes for a great inexpensive protein.
Sour Cream is a great deal, fine quality.
Produce is usually, well, pathetic. You don’t shop at Aldi for produce. However, when the Banana’s (Dole) look good, they are a steal at 49 cents a lb.
Ground Turkey is an amazing deal.
I love the Cocheur chocolate bars (dark chocolate with hazelnuts) and the natural peanut butter which has only peanuts and salt. Love to purchase food items with the fewest ingredients. The candy is the best dark chocolate I have ever tasted. Two ingredients other than the chocolate ingredients. The natural peanut butter is wonderful.
Actually, I am not a big fan of the Aldi chocolate, though I have tried. I usually get my chocolate fix when it’s on clearance somewhere and I have extra coupons. Score.
I have shopped at the Aldi store in Shirley B’ham for the past 10 years. This morning I became an ex-Aldi customer.
Why?
Because I have waited more than a week to buy their much advertised ‘Medion PC X7330 D’ computer. I promised this computer to my son as a late Christmas present. I arrived at the store at 9.15am only to be told by the manageress – they’d sold out of the computer. I was totally amazed as this early there were no more than about eight customers in the store and none of them had anything resembling a computer amongst their shopping. I asked the manageress how many they’d had in stock – TWO she replied.
Two!!! For God’s sake Aldi I drove 15 miles through some of the worst weather conditions experienced in this country.
How can you justify printing thousands of leaflets promoting an item you stock TWO of.
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury – I’ll be seeing you.
Hello,
it is very interesting to hear such compliments about aldi. I am from germany and i like Aldi too.
I love Aldi’s! For my Easter dinner, I just bought a 3 lb. Black Forest Smoked Ham ($8.99) and a 2.50 lb Black Forest Smoked Turkey breast ($8.99) .
I’ve purchased the BF ham twice already and each time it was lean, juicy and absolutely DELICOUS!
For Easter, I will be making both..I can’t wait to taste the BF Turkey, although, I have no doubt it will be excellent.
I remember back in 1986. I stopped into an Aldi (near Chicago) for the very first time. The store was so dirty and disgusting, I walked out vowing never to return.
Then.. a few years ago they built several new stores in my area..since they were new, I thought I would take a look and….well, its been my store ever since!…lol the stores are EXTREMELY CLEAN, the products/ prices are great and ..everyone is so friendly too.
I’ve shopped Aldi’s for a couple years now. The only item I came across as horrible were their small scallops. They were fishy and resembled tiny rubber erasers..hhaa but that can happen anywhere. Maybe thats how they are supposed to be? lol oh well, yucko.lol
Other than that..I’ve been very pleased with every purchase I have made at Aldi’s =)
For the longest time we had an Aldi’s in a very congested part of town until they opened one in a less crowded area near my home! I think I am going to be an Aldi shopper for life as there are certain products that cannot be beat for taste and price …
1. peppercorn kettle potato chips (to die for)
2. cornbread crackers (seasonal)
3. mozzarella cheese sticks … i could live on these
4. the ranch dressing in their fit n active line
5. their fresh fruits and veggies …
6. the awesome packaged chocolate bunnies, chicks, and ladybugs that adorned my kids easter baskets (wow – cute and yummy)
7. the frozen ground turkey
8. the 2.5 bags of frozen stir fry veggies (szechuan and teriyaki)
9. the boxed chicken stock
10. the $1.99 nailpolish (they need more colors though!)
11. canned corn (amazing sweet and crisp)
12. the spiral sliced hams
13. the boneless turkey breast i bought frozen around xmas time (I haven’t seen it since but i have been looking for it every time I grocery shop there)
i have only had one product in the store i probably wouldn’t buy again … the canned whipped cream. It just didn’t work for me : (
i look forward to every visit because I never know what I will find!!! Oh, and the nice staff and exceptionally clean stores make grocery shopping a nice experience for me!
Hi,
I just wanted to say, I have been an Aldi’s shopper now for 15
years, and couldn’t make it without that store, groceries are so
much cheaper there, and they have good quality stuff. With friuts and Vegtable’s in the produce, it really helps out since
I am now a diabetic. If you haven’t tried Aldi’s you really need
to give it a try. You won’t be sorry. Saving money in this day
and time is a huge must in my house. And you benefit from that in the end.
Thanks,
Glenda Brashier
I love their version of Red Bull..called Red Thunder.
Trader Joe’s is owned by Theo Albrecht, one of brothers who founded Aldi.
There are many staples I can’t even beat with a coupon so I get those at aldi
Milk
Eggs
Bagged salad
Frozen corn just .69 a 16 oz bag at my store
Oriental stir fry veggies (frozen) 2.99 for a HUGE BAG
Bleach (was 1.09 and they lowered it even more to .99, thats cheaper than Wal-mart
Tortilla chips
Those scrub sponges were .99 for a 2 pack!
Syrofoam plates just 1.29 for a 50 pack
Fresh veggies on sale for the week
Immitation Sunny Delight
Ravioli 2.99 for a HUGE bag (can’t beat that one with a BOGO sale and 2 coupons!
Frozen stir fry vegetables and apples. Don’t get their yogurt covered raisins though. They taste waxy.
Oh. Also I like to make their oatmeal and mix in a can of peas. Then add salt and red pepper flakes. Boxed shredded wheat cereal, coffee, non-dairy creamer, fruit and grain cereal bars, veggie straws, and chili mix. But there is a lot of garbage there, just like any grocery.
What a great blog – love to spread the Aldi gospel! Just today, I blogged my own Top 10 Reasons Why Aldi Rocks (and One Caveat):
http://www.susanhardy.org/2011/10/food-10-reasons-why-aldi-rocks-and-one.html
Just found out about some hilarious UK Aldi ads: http://www.susanhardy.org/2011/10/commercials-aldis-cheeky-uk-tv-ads.html
The ALDI love train is back in the station, this time loaded with delicious cheap wine & chocolate
– http://www.susanhardy.org/2011/10/food-more-aldi-love-yummy-riesling-and.html
Dear ALDI: Please know this comes from a place of love – ALDI’s Fiber Now Bars: A Cautionary Tale: http://www.susanhardy.org/2011/11/food-aldis-fiber-now-bars-cautionary.html
how is the sugardale brand spiral ham
Has anybody noticed that the regular rice cakes have disappeared from your local ALDI? I’m a little worried. http://www.susanhardy.org/2012/01/food-hey-aldi-whither-rice-cakes.html
More Aldi love – here’s the first of my 3-post series. Starting with the good news first….http://www.susanhardy.org/2012/02/aldi-part-1-of-3-good.html
Aldi, part 2: the bad…: http://www.susanhardy.org/2012/03/aldi-part-2-of-3-bad.html
I am a lover of good foods. I go to Aldi’s every week, and have for quite some time. (The fresh pineapple right now is a tremendous bargain. Just allow at least a week to ripen.) The german chocolates are the best chocolate (which happens to also be for the best price) in my city. We buy the dark chocolate with hazelnuts bar. The Italian products are very good — spaghetti sauces, whole grain pasta, etc. The parmesan cheese on the grocer shelf is delicious — very very cheap with none of the fillers often in that product. The low fat Fit n Active cream soups , I think, actually made my holiday casseroles taste BETTER. They are just perfect, and low fat to boot. I would caution people though — I don’t buy products (or few products) that don’t say where they are produced, just DISTRIBUTED out of the midwest. Don’t know about the quality, and don’t want to support sweat shops either. Also, the ground turkey meat as “innards” mixed in with the flesh meat, I believe. If you are ok with that, fine, but know what you are getting. I don’t buy it.
A big fan of ALDI. I wish ALDI has more Asian grocery items. The closest Asian grocery store is 10 miles away from home.
I love their chicken salad. I’ve found their cereals and crackers to be equal to other “store brands” and we buy them all the time. Their canned refried beans are very good, and I’ve found yummy icecream and frozen novelties. I also like their toilet paper that is almost identical to Sc**t’s. I have had problems with their milk spoiling before the expiration date and we just bought a bag of sweet boneless BBQ seasoned zings (boneless chicken wings) that smelled great and contained a ton of pieces but were utterly inedible. Inside was gray chicken mush, and we ended up throwing them away.
We LOVE Aldi!
So what we don’t find at one store, it’s at the other.
OUR TOP PRODUCTS:
1. Aunt Maple pancake mix (light and fluffy, yellow box)
2. pure maple syrup
3. cereal (I think Millville is General Mills)
4. ALL baking supplies
5. Refrigerated pizza
6. ALL cheese and dairy products
7. dog food and biscuits (1/2 price of major brands, dogs love it)
8. paper towels
9. raisin bread
10. bagels
11. ALL frozen fruit
12. ALL frozen pastry especially Deutche Kuchke apple raisin
13. frozen Asian meals like mandarin orange chicken
14. refrigerated cookie dough ALL flavors
15. Beaumont coffee
16. ALL creamer
17. frozen oatmeal (look like hockey pucks-one serving)
I guess there is not much that we do not like. Please know that we are very picky about our food and I am very frugal. The only competition here is Giant Eagle. We have Trader Joe’s but they are owned by Aldi
I love the corned beef hash. Great with your eggs. Frozen potato puffs are good too.
I just bought some potato puffs myself.
The cat litter recently took a dive in quality–big chunks of blue clay-like stuff and much darker in color overall.