How to Aldi
November 12, 2014 6:44 PM Subscribe
Looking for an alternative to Walmart for groceries, I've discovered Aldi.
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A walk-through of the store shows me that they have a smaller subset of what is at a "normal" grocery store. Do they have a searchable database of the items that their stores DO carry, so I can figure out what I will NOT be able to get there? I've looked at the Aldi website, and was not able to find that ability there, maybe it is hiding? Also looking for anecdotes and strategies for shopping at Aldi from people who do so regularly, with success.
A walk-through of the store shows me that they have a smaller subset of what is at a "normal" grocery store. Do they have a searchable database of the items that their stores DO carry, so I can figure out what I will NOT be able to get there? I've looked at the Aldi website, and was not able to find that ability there, maybe it is hiding? Also looking for anecdotes and strategies for shopping at Aldi from people who do so regularly, with success.
I used to shop at Aldi all the time, and I still shop at PriceRite, which is similar. I highly doubt you'll be able to find a searchable database. Generally I just hit the discount store first and then assess what I still need afterward and go to a larger grocery.
How to Aldi? Well, I personally didn't buy much meat at Aldi as a general rule because sometimes it didn't seem like great quality, though that probably varies depending on the store and might have improved. I also found their produce disappointing in general (a lot of it went bad fast). It was fantastic for really cheap dry goods though. Pasta, cereals, baking supplies, beans etc. Eggs and milk. There will be some brand name items discounted (name brand cereal, pasta sauce...), but don't depend on seeing them every time you go--there's a good chance you'll see them somewhat regularly, though.
You have to put a quarter in to get a cart, or at least you did at the one I went to. You get the quarter back when you return the cart, though.
posted by geegollygosh at 6:57 PM on November 12, 2014
How to Aldi? Well, I personally didn't buy much meat at Aldi as a general rule because sometimes it didn't seem like great quality, though that probably varies depending on the store and might have improved. I also found their produce disappointing in general (a lot of it went bad fast). It was fantastic for really cheap dry goods though. Pasta, cereals, baking supplies, beans etc. Eggs and milk. There will be some brand name items discounted (name brand cereal, pasta sauce...), but don't depend on seeing them every time you go--there's a good chance you'll see them somewhat regularly, though.
You have to put a quarter in to get a cart, or at least you did at the one I went to. You get the quarter back when you return the cart, though.
posted by geegollygosh at 6:57 PM on November 12, 2014
There is an online database available through a crowd-sourced data app called StockUp (iOS).
Down load it
sign up
select "nearby stores" from the left slide menu
pick your Aldi from the list
select "browse prices here"
select "View All Products"
will take you to what shoppers have scanned in locally and nation wide that are likely at your location
I've used StockUp as a shop comparison app. There's other features but that's my primary desire/use.
posted by Buttons Bellbottom at 7:00 PM on November 12, 2014 [12 favorites]
Down load it
sign up
select "nearby stores" from the left slide menu
pick your Aldi from the list
select "browse prices here"
select "View All Products"
will take you to what shoppers have scanned in locally and nation wide that are likely at your location
I've used StockUp as a shop comparison app. There's other features but that's my primary desire/use.
posted by Buttons Bellbottom at 7:00 PM on November 12, 2014 [12 favorites]
Pick up their flyer on the way out the door; it will have next week's special buys (which are often seasonal).
posted by coldhotel at 7:02 PM on November 12, 2014
posted by coldhotel at 7:02 PM on November 12, 2014
For me, Aldi is a little farther away than other stores, so I use the weekly ad for the local store to see whether prices on stuff I need are enticing enough to warrant the trip.
posted by Bentobox Humperdinck at 7:03 PM on November 12, 2014
posted by Bentobox Humperdinck at 7:03 PM on November 12, 2014
Nope. They do list their weekly specials online, some of which may only be around for a short while, but the general inventory's only partially listed online on their website. The specials can vary, but some are pretty decent buys, often with the most superficial re-branding, so it's easy to work out what brand they're usually sold under.
It's fairly easy over time to get used to what's shelved where, because store layouts don't tend to get jiggered about to mess with customers' expectations. (Until the 90s, Aldi cashiers had to memorise the price of every item, to save money on labelling or barcode scanners.)
The most practical Aldi strategy is to go there first with a list and then do 'cleanup' elsewhere. That guards against Walmart Syndrome where you walk into a massive megamart with a short list and all the wandering between aisles leaves you with a full basket at the end.
The relationship between Aldi US and Trader Joe's is... complicated: more like second cousins than siblings.
posted by holgate at 7:05 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's fairly easy over time to get used to what's shelved where, because store layouts don't tend to get jiggered about to mess with customers' expectations. (Until the 90s, Aldi cashiers had to memorise the price of every item, to save money on labelling or barcode scanners.)
The most practical Aldi strategy is to go there first with a list and then do 'cleanup' elsewhere. That guards against Walmart Syndrome where you walk into a massive megamart with a short list and all the wandering between aisles leaves you with a full basket at the end.
The relationship between Aldi US and Trader Joe's is... complicated: more like second cousins than siblings.
posted by holgate at 7:05 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
You can actually see the items that they stock on their website, but they are a bit hidden. I assume you're in the US, so you're looking at aldi.us?
To look for packaged food items, click "Aldi brands". Halfway down the page you will see a series of icons, such as "Speciality selected", "Simply Nature", "Fit & Active" etc. If you click on each of these, you will see a series of categories: beverages, dairy etc. Click on each of these and you will see some of the products stocked at Aldi.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 7:08 PM on November 12, 2014
To look for packaged food items, click "Aldi brands". Halfway down the page you will see a series of icons, such as "Speciality selected", "Simply Nature", "Fit & Active" etc. If you click on each of these, you will see a series of categories: beverages, dairy etc. Click on each of these and you will see some of the products stocked at Aldi.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 7:08 PM on November 12, 2014
I shop at Aldi all the time, and it's always cheaper than the regular grocery stores in town, including Walmart. Once you get used to shopping there, you'll see what they have and what they dont, but normally I'd say I get about 80% of what I need from Aldi, and I pass another grocery store on the way home, so it's pretty easy to swing by the other store and get the few things I couldn't pick up.
As others have said, it's best to make a list and then you can grab whatever you didn't cross off.
What I always buy at Aldi:
-produce (sometimes the fruit can be spotty, but I do well with veggies)
-Dairy (eggs, milk (my Aldi even has organic, soy, and almond milk), butter, cheese - even some "specialty" cheeses like brie, asiago, etc)
-pantry items (wheat pasta, canned tomatoes, cans or bags of beans, olive oil, flour, sugar)
-Snacky stuff (crackers, hummus, tortilla chips)
-We only eat a little bit of meat, but I've never had problem with the chicken or ground turkey from Aldi
What I have to buy elsewhere:
-some fruit
-sometimes bread, especially if I want a fresh baguette or something similar
-international ingredients I used a lot (coconut milk, sesame oil, curry powder. I usually just stock up on these once ever-other-month which helps cut down on non-Aldi grocery trips)
-deli meat
-dog food
-Anything that I really must have name brand (in this house, that's usually just Coke)
posted by nuclear_soup at 7:12 PM on November 12, 2014
As others have said, it's best to make a list and then you can grab whatever you didn't cross off.
What I always buy at Aldi:
-produce (sometimes the fruit can be spotty, but I do well with veggies)
-Dairy (eggs, milk (my Aldi even has organic, soy, and almond milk), butter, cheese - even some "specialty" cheeses like brie, asiago, etc)
-pantry items (wheat pasta, canned tomatoes, cans or bags of beans, olive oil, flour, sugar)
-Snacky stuff (crackers, hummus, tortilla chips)
-We only eat a little bit of meat, but I've never had problem with the chicken or ground turkey from Aldi
What I have to buy elsewhere:
-some fruit
-sometimes bread, especially if I want a fresh baguette or something similar
-international ingredients I used a lot (coconut milk, sesame oil, curry powder. I usually just stock up on these once ever-other-month which helps cut down on non-Aldi grocery trips)
-deli meat
-dog food
-Anything that I really must have name brand (in this house, that's usually just Coke)
posted by nuclear_soup at 7:12 PM on November 12, 2014
The Australian version is much easier to navigate, but will not be very helpful if you don't live here.
And the weekly specials catalogues are great for some of the less usual items - appliances, gadgets, salad spinners, potato ricers etc.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 7:12 PM on November 12, 2014
And the weekly specials catalogues are great for some of the less usual items - appliances, gadgets, salad spinners, potato ricers etc.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 7:12 PM on November 12, 2014
The rule of thumb that works for me is that the shelves on the outer perimeter of the store (the first aisle, the back wall of coolers, and the far wall of freezers) tend to have the same items all the time.
Everything else on the inside aisles can change at any given moment once it's sold out.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:17 PM on November 12, 2014
Everything else on the inside aisles can change at any given moment once it's sold out.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:17 PM on November 12, 2014
I was initially quite excited by my first trip to Aldi, which netted a huge cart of groceries for probably $100 cheaper than what they would have been in any other store. However, several items were really off in texture, particularly:
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:21 PM on November 12, 2014
- jasmine rice--strangely long and strangely thin; I put some in chicken and rice soup and served it to guests and one of them noticed, too
- fake triscuits--less strongly flavored and more airy than normal triscuits
- fake reese's peanut butter puffs--likewise, less strongly flavored and more airy
- bananas--bought green, went bad almost immediately
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:21 PM on November 12, 2014
There are two Aldi's near me, and they carry different products - not wholly different, but subtly enough that if I am near either one, I will pop in to see what they have that the other one doesn't. So I don't think all the stores carry the same products, which is why you're not able to find a way to do what you're wanting.
Here's how I Aldi:
* Try not to get too hung up on getting the best price on everything. I make no more than one or two Aldi runs per month, and do my weekly shopping at my regular store, even if I end up spending a little bit more. If I thoroughly inventory my pantry and freezer before my Aldi runs, I am still spending about 40% less overall.
* Things to get: graham crackers, corn chips, honey, baking supplies, canned veggies and beans and tomatoes, dry beans, almost anything from the Simply Nature organic line, some produce (depends on the store - garlic and onions are safe, usually peppers and lettuce are good, otherwise it's been hit and miss for me), cheese and dairy products, ground beef, chicken breasts, frozen salmon, frozen veggies, ice cream, some pizzas (the special buys), bagels and any "fresh" baked goods like cookies or danish, pasta and pasta sauce, hummus, some of the seasonal items (Halloween candy, fall baking spices) and some of the random special buys that aren't groceries (the drying rack I got there is the best tiny luxury I've ever bought for myself; likewise a heat-resistant wooden-handled silicone spatula).
* Things to avoid: saltines, canned soup, most produce, name brand stuff (I can get PopTarts or cereal for a better deal at the regular grocery store with couponing), baby wipes (they have a weird pattern on them that makes them not work really well).
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 7:33 PM on November 12, 2014
Here's how I Aldi:
* Try not to get too hung up on getting the best price on everything. I make no more than one or two Aldi runs per month, and do my weekly shopping at my regular store, even if I end up spending a little bit more. If I thoroughly inventory my pantry and freezer before my Aldi runs, I am still spending about 40% less overall.
* Things to get: graham crackers, corn chips, honey, baking supplies, canned veggies and beans and tomatoes, dry beans, almost anything from the Simply Nature organic line, some produce (depends on the store - garlic and onions are safe, usually peppers and lettuce are good, otherwise it's been hit and miss for me), cheese and dairy products, ground beef, chicken breasts, frozen salmon, frozen veggies, ice cream, some pizzas (the special buys), bagels and any "fresh" baked goods like cookies or danish, pasta and pasta sauce, hummus, some of the seasonal items (Halloween candy, fall baking spices) and some of the random special buys that aren't groceries (the drying rack I got there is the best tiny luxury I've ever bought for myself; likewise a heat-resistant wooden-handled silicone spatula).
* Things to avoid: saltines, canned soup, most produce, name brand stuff (I can get PopTarts or cereal for a better deal at the regular grocery store with couponing), baby wipes (they have a weird pattern on them that makes them not work really well).
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 7:33 PM on November 12, 2014
The chocolate is awesome. I get all my baking supplies, dairy , kitty litter, and snacks. We get spinach and kale which are always good and the organic soy milk and almond milk are an exceptional value. My local Aldi does not always have the best produce and I have another local store that has excellent produce so I don't usually bother with produce much. Another factor at my local is that most people use Link cards, so at the end of the month a lot of the fresh produce and meat are marked half price. That's when I buy it because I am cheap.
posted by readery at 7:34 PM on November 12, 2014
posted by readery at 7:34 PM on November 12, 2014
As far as I know, their offerings rotate. Your best bet would be to check their weekly newspaper insert, where they will highlight what's featured. You probably won't be able to get everything, so you can go to Aldi first and then hit another store for whatever remains on your list. In my experience, Aldis are usually near another grocery store anyway.
From your question though, it sounds like you seem to think Walmart is cheaper than a regular grocery store. I tested this theory with a shopping list where I checked everything at Walmart and then checked a regular grocery store. Some items were less, some items were more, some items were the same, but the total bill was essentially the same for both stores. Unless everything you buy is Walmart cheapo "Great Value" brand, I'm not sure you're saving as much as you think. Besides, I've noticed the quality of produce at Walmart isn't that great and the quality of "Great Value" is very hit and miss. Aldi is a similar situation. You get what you pay for and some of the stuff is pretty crappy quality. You can find good deals though.
posted by AppleTurnover at 7:37 PM on November 12, 2014
From your question though, it sounds like you seem to think Walmart is cheaper than a regular grocery store. I tested this theory with a shopping list where I checked everything at Walmart and then checked a regular grocery store. Some items were less, some items were more, some items were the same, but the total bill was essentially the same for both stores. Unless everything you buy is Walmart cheapo "Great Value" brand, I'm not sure you're saving as much as you think. Besides, I've noticed the quality of produce at Walmart isn't that great and the quality of "Great Value" is very hit and miss. Aldi is a similar situation. You get what you pay for and some of the stuff is pretty crappy quality. You can find good deals though.
posted by AppleTurnover at 7:37 PM on November 12, 2014
I shop at Aldi pretty frequently. I get the following things there:
1. Everything to make packed lunches for work. For me, that's bread, salami, cheese, mustard, and mini chocolate bars. I am not very gourmet.
2. Greek yogurt, frozen fruit and honey. That's breakfast. Also almond milk to put in my coffee.
3. Canned tomatoes and beans.
4. Baking supplies and other kitchen staples.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:37 PM on November 12, 2014
1. Everything to make packed lunches for work. For me, that's bread, salami, cheese, mustard, and mini chocolate bars. I am not very gourmet.
2. Greek yogurt, frozen fruit and honey. That's breakfast. Also almond milk to put in my coffee.
3. Canned tomatoes and beans.
4. Baking supplies and other kitchen staples.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:37 PM on November 12, 2014
I know that it's a shame-on-me thing for even buying that category of stuff, but the processed foods at Aldi--granola bars, cookies, frozen pizzas, etc.--tend to be abysmal. It's the one area they really lag in, IMO.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:52 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:52 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
DirtyOldTown, I came in to say the opposite--that Aldi's Mama Cozzi frozen pizzas are my family's absolute favorite frozen pizzas. The meatball one is especially popular here lately.
I shop at Aldi a ton, because I'm cheap and have few options around me, but also I just legitimately love it Their selection and quality seems to vary pretty dramatically by store--for example, the one nearest me consistently has better produce than other supermarkets in the area, but the next closest one, which I stop at sometimes, emphatically does not.
Ground meats are ok; the rest of their meat section isn't bad, but should be checked carefully, as "enhanced with up to 30% saline solution" or whatever seems to be par for the course. I'm still sad about the time I bought a three pound corned beef and it cooked down to nothing. If you use the kind of cheese that comes in shrink wrapped eight ounce blocks (no judging--I use it all the time) theirs is no worse than most of the supermarket kinds, in my opinion, and is usually a fair bit cheaper.
Their snack foods are pretty good, in my opinion--my kid goes through boxes of their CheezIts and Wheat Thins, and they have great chocolate--those mini chocolate bars, five for two bucks? Do rec, really strongly. I've found the Specially Selected label to be pretty solid, almost regardless of what the product is. All their pantry stuff is good, too, and their Splenda knockoff is about half of what my local WalMart charges for the same thing.
Shopping at Aldi is one of those things where you sort of have to throw yourself into it, and accept that sometimes you're going to spend a couple bucks on something you find inedible. That said, they do have a pretty decent guarantee, and I've used it a couple times when I bought more expensive stuff that didn't work out for me.
posted by MeghanC at 8:26 PM on November 12, 2014 [3 favorites]
I shop at Aldi a ton, because I'm cheap and have few options around me, but also I just legitimately love it Their selection and quality seems to vary pretty dramatically by store--for example, the one nearest me consistently has better produce than other supermarkets in the area, but the next closest one, which I stop at sometimes, emphatically does not.
Ground meats are ok; the rest of their meat section isn't bad, but should be checked carefully, as "enhanced with up to 30% saline solution" or whatever seems to be par for the course. I'm still sad about the time I bought a three pound corned beef and it cooked down to nothing. If you use the kind of cheese that comes in shrink wrapped eight ounce blocks (no judging--I use it all the time) theirs is no worse than most of the supermarket kinds, in my opinion, and is usually a fair bit cheaper.
Their snack foods are pretty good, in my opinion--my kid goes through boxes of their CheezIts and Wheat Thins, and they have great chocolate--those mini chocolate bars, five for two bucks? Do rec, really strongly. I've found the Specially Selected label to be pretty solid, almost regardless of what the product is. All their pantry stuff is good, too, and their Splenda knockoff is about half of what my local WalMart charges for the same thing.
Shopping at Aldi is one of those things where you sort of have to throw yourself into it, and accept that sometimes you're going to spend a couple bucks on something you find inedible. That said, they do have a pretty decent guarantee, and I've used it a couple times when I bought more expensive stuff that didn't work out for me.
posted by MeghanC at 8:26 PM on November 12, 2014 [3 favorites]
I think their frozen pizzas are surprisingly good for the $3 or $ they cost. Not the world's best pizza or anything, but a damn decent dinner at half what they'd cost elsewhere.
Ditto their candies - they have a line of knockoffs with fun names. My favorite is Jive, which is pretending to be Twix, again at half the cost, and shockingly close to the real thing.
posted by jessicapierce at 8:48 PM on November 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ditto their candies - they have a line of knockoffs with fun names. My favorite is Jive, which is pretending to be Twix, again at half the cost, and shockingly close to the real thing.
posted by jessicapierce at 8:48 PM on November 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
The trick to Aldi's is simple. Forget about your list. Free yourself from it. Shopping aldi's with a list is mostly going to lead to disappoint. The only exception is their ads and specials. When I go to aldi's, which is a lot, I let what's available guide me. I don't go in with much of a game plan.
Instead, I let aldi's take me on a journey and I use my main grocery store to fill in the spaces. I save a lot of money that way.
posted by Aranquis at 8:52 PM on November 12, 2014 [4 favorites]
Instead, I let aldi's take me on a journey and I use my main grocery store to fill in the spaces. I save a lot of money that way.
posted by Aranquis at 8:52 PM on November 12, 2014 [4 favorites]
I think part of the trick with Aldi is just repetition--after a few weeks of shopping there regularly you'll get a better idea about what things they have in their staple product line/what things in their staple product line are also part of your staple purchasing habits. Eventually you'll recognize "stuff they [almost] always have" vs. seasonal specials.
posted by drlith at 9:12 PM on November 12, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by drlith at 9:12 PM on November 12, 2014 [4 favorites]
you will get used to it. If you keep at it, you'll probably find that the meals you cook and your snacks actually change to match more closely what they sell. They do have all the basics that you are likely to need, but like others above, I mostly avoid their produce as it goes bad within a day or two in my experience. So unless you have particularly weird requirements you might find you can get by with Aldi once a week and then a fruit and vegetable market or something a couple of times to round it out with fresh items. That way you don't have to do two different supermarkets. You may have to go elsewhere for cleaning products, shampoo, pet food, etc, as they have very limited selections of that, but those aren't things you have to buy every week anyway.
posted by lollusc at 9:23 PM on November 12, 2014
posted by lollusc at 9:23 PM on November 12, 2014
Alas, we have no Aldi's out here in the Pacific NW, but I do live vicariously through The Frugal Girl blog. Just search Aldi on her site, and she's got lots of posts about what she likes and doesn't like about Aldi. And how best to 'aldi'.
posted by hydra77 at 10:51 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by hydra77 at 10:51 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
I regularly do the weekly shop at Aldi* or Lidl here in the UK and I've found it best to do the "main shop" there but I don't go straight to your old supermarket for the things I've missed because you spend a heck of a lot more that way.
Instead, I make sure we've got the essentials for the week (bread, milk, butter, meat, fruit & veg, etc) then wait a few days or even a week before doing a top-up shop for the things missed. You might find that you didn't actually need them anyway or can shop for them far less frequently.
I've also found that if you really like one of their seasonal specials, grab it. (For example, today they have German mustard in stock for the first time in months so we'll go this evening and buy a dozen or so.)
Lastly, if you can find their marzipan stollen, buy a trunk load. I've yet to find anyone who doesn't absolutely love this.
* The nearest one to us has a huge, excellent and stupidly cheap fruit and vegetable section. If they sold loose tea and Lavazza coffee I don't think I'd go to any other supermarket.
posted by humph at 12:44 AM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
Instead, I make sure we've got the essentials for the week (bread, milk, butter, meat, fruit & veg, etc) then wait a few days or even a week before doing a top-up shop for the things missed. You might find that you didn't actually need them anyway or can shop for them far less frequently.
I've also found that if you really like one of their seasonal specials, grab it. (For example, today they have German mustard in stock for the first time in months so we'll go this evening and buy a dozen or so.)
Lastly, if you can find their marzipan stollen, buy a trunk load. I've yet to find anyone who doesn't absolutely love this.
* The nearest one to us has a huge, excellent and stupidly cheap fruit and vegetable section. If they sold loose tea and Lavazza coffee I don't think I'd go to any other supermarket.
posted by humph at 12:44 AM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
One of the remarkable things about Aldi (and Lidl) is the consistency of their store design. Like an Ikea of supermarkets - except designed to speed up rather than slow down your shopping experience. The basic pattern seems to be: keep size and goods inventory as small as possible, essential stuff round the outside with rotating special offers in the middle. Visit a store in Frankfurt, Glasgow or Ohio and you will find it sticks to the same plan.
Not directly related - but you might enjoy comparing the litigateably similar Aldi and Lidl Christmas 2014 UK TV commercials. Essential for students of contemporary British culture and general supermarket chatter.
posted by rongorongo at 2:01 AM on November 13, 2014
Not directly related - but you might enjoy comparing the litigateably similar Aldi and Lidl Christmas 2014 UK TV commercials. Essential for students of contemporary British culture and general supermarket chatter.
posted by rongorongo at 2:01 AM on November 13, 2014
It really varies from Aldi to Aldi. I've read here on MeFi various tales of fantastic Aldis, whereas my local Aldi is one of the older stores, is very tiny and very, very limited in what they carry, and when they carry it. In short, you never know what you'll find there.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:31 AM on November 13, 2014
posted by Thorzdad at 5:31 AM on November 13, 2014
View it is "hit or miss" and expect to go to another store to fill in the gaps. Shop often and get used to what your store offers. Usually I don't go to more than one store to chase sales, but find that stocking up at Aldi's first is such a significant savings that it is worth making a couple of trips.
1. Snacks: tortilla chips in particular
2. Granola
3. Yogurt: my local one was carrying Fage Greek yogurt for awhile
4. Cheese & crackers for parties, great selection and much less than other grocery stores
5. Frozen fruit and veggies, especially broccoli florets
6. Pasta and sauce
7. Salad: Organic "spring mix"
Skip: Meat, soups.
posted by Shadow Boxer at 6:17 AM on November 13, 2014
1. Snacks: tortilla chips in particular
2. Granola
3. Yogurt: my local one was carrying Fage Greek yogurt for awhile
4. Cheese & crackers for parties, great selection and much less than other grocery stores
5. Frozen fruit and veggies, especially broccoli florets
6. Pasta and sauce
7. Salad: Organic "spring mix"
Skip: Meat, soups.
posted by Shadow Boxer at 6:17 AM on November 13, 2014
I make a list of whatever basics I need (tea bags, eggs, etc.) and make sure I get those. Apart from that, I largely buy what looks good. If you go to Aldi with the intention of buying something specific (say, Swiss chard), you will be disappointed. If you go to Aldi with the intention of buying some really good produce for cheap, you will be pleased. Aldi varies their stock regularly so it pays to be flexible with your planning.
Generally I'll hit Kroger once a month for things I can't get at Aldi like whipped honey and dill relish. Interestingly, nuclear_soup, my Aldi stocks Coke and Diet Coke.
posted by workerant at 6:43 AM on November 13, 2014
Generally I'll hit Kroger once a month for things I can't get at Aldi like whipped honey and dill relish. Interestingly, nuclear_soup, my Aldi stocks Coke and Diet Coke.
posted by workerant at 6:43 AM on November 13, 2014
I know that it's a shame-on-me thing for even buying that category of stuff, but the processed foods at Aldi--granola bars, cookies, frozen pizzas, etc.--tend to be abysmal.
I'm with you up to the frozen pizzas. The $1.99 frozen pizzas (sausage, cheese, or pepperoni, I stay away from the 4-meats because the bacon flavor completely takes it over) are a really good deal. There are occasionally DiGiorno-esque pizzas that cost more and aren't very good, but the Tombstone/Jacks type are untouchable by anything similar.
We try never to get milk anywhere else. It was $2.62/gallon for 2% last night. Sometimes it's $1.99 and sometimes it's $2.99, but it's never $4.80 or whatever the big gorcers want for it.
About every fourth trip, the bananas are either gone or past their prime. Same with avacados.
If you use oyster crackers on anything, you'll never want to use anything but ALDI's again. Their Ritz knock-offs are good substitutes. Most of the other crackers aren't that good.
The pasta sauce is really good as well. The Reggano Traditional goes down well at our house, even with the picky eaters. It's one of the few that's good enough to just heat and eat.
The ALDI-brand cereals are not good. The lone exception are the Rice Krispy clones. I can't tell the difference, and I'm one of the picky eaters mentioned above.
The staff at ALDI are very efficient (not needing to bag helps, I suppose). Even long lines go pretty quickly unless a customer clogs the line by trying to write a check or use a credit card. (Cash, debit [with a pin], or EBT only).
When the weather permits, I usually skip bagging the groceries in the store and head straight to the car/van after checkout. I have a few boxes in the hatchback area and just load the groceries straight into them from the cart. This way I avoid the tangle that's sometimes involved with the bagging counter at the front of the store.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 7:39 AM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm with you up to the frozen pizzas. The $1.99 frozen pizzas (sausage, cheese, or pepperoni, I stay away from the 4-meats because the bacon flavor completely takes it over) are a really good deal. There are occasionally DiGiorno-esque pizzas that cost more and aren't very good, but the Tombstone/Jacks type are untouchable by anything similar.
We try never to get milk anywhere else. It was $2.62/gallon for 2% last night. Sometimes it's $1.99 and sometimes it's $2.99, but it's never $4.80 or whatever the big gorcers want for it.
About every fourth trip, the bananas are either gone or past their prime. Same with avacados.
If you use oyster crackers on anything, you'll never want to use anything but ALDI's again. Their Ritz knock-offs are good substitutes. Most of the other crackers aren't that good.
The pasta sauce is really good as well. The Reggano Traditional goes down well at our house, even with the picky eaters. It's one of the few that's good enough to just heat and eat.
The ALDI-brand cereals are not good. The lone exception are the Rice Krispy clones. I can't tell the difference, and I'm one of the picky eaters mentioned above.
The staff at ALDI are very efficient (not needing to bag helps, I suppose). Even long lines go pretty quickly unless a customer clogs the line by trying to write a check or use a credit card. (Cash, debit [with a pin], or EBT only).
When the weather permits, I usually skip bagging the groceries in the store and head straight to the car/van after checkout. I have a few boxes in the hatchback area and just load the groceries straight into them from the cart. This way I avoid the tangle that's sometimes involved with the bagging counter at the front of the store.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 7:39 AM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
Echoing the opinion that both quality, and amount of savings on any given item are really hit-or-miss. I've had better luck with staples than processed foods or produce. A few things I've found to be really worthwhile (although prices probably vary among stores):
Canned pumpkin! $0.90/can--I think $1.50 is the cheapest I've ever seen it at any other store, and even that price is pretty rare.
Onions! Usually they're just regularly priced, but I've occasionally found 3lb bags on sale for as little as $0.50. Of course, this was because they were starting to get moldy, but I just took them home and tore off the moldy skin around the tops and they were fine.
White flour! Usually $1.50/bag, $0.50 cheaper than grocery store brand.
Rolled oats! $2.30 for a huge can. I don't think I've ever bought these at my regular grocery store because they're SO much more.
Ziplock bags! The little sandwich kind are $2.00/100ct. I imagine the other varieties are similarly cheap.
Organic stuff! If organic is important to you, they have chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and probably a few other things that are a good deal.
posted by gueneverey at 7:54 AM on November 13, 2014
Canned pumpkin! $0.90/can--I think $1.50 is the cheapest I've ever seen it at any other store, and even that price is pretty rare.
Onions! Usually they're just regularly priced, but I've occasionally found 3lb bags on sale for as little as $0.50. Of course, this was because they were starting to get moldy, but I just took them home and tore off the moldy skin around the tops and they were fine.
White flour! Usually $1.50/bag, $0.50 cheaper than grocery store brand.
Rolled oats! $2.30 for a huge can. I don't think I've ever bought these at my regular grocery store because they're SO much more.
Ziplock bags! The little sandwich kind are $2.00/100ct. I imagine the other varieties are similarly cheap.
Organic stuff! If organic is important to you, they have chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and probably a few other things that are a good deal.
posted by gueneverey at 7:54 AM on November 13, 2014
I shop at Aldi fairly frequently. Here's how I do it:
* I don't buy ground meat or cold cuts there because I haven't been happy with the quality.
* Produce quality there is very hit-or-miss. It tends to spoil more quickly.
* If you have a smartphone, download the Aldi app. It will tell you what this week's specials and next week's specials are. Failing that, take their flyer (next week's specials) on the way out the door. I believe their "week" changes on Wednesdays.
* Go in with a list of what you want, but be prepared to have to buy some items elsewhere. If you see a brand name item in the store that you like, get it. Aldi only stocks brand names when there is overstock from local suppliers they can get cheaply. I once bought a crapton of brand name stand-and-stuff taco kits
* Try to go about an hour before closing time. This is when (at least at my local Aldi's) they restock for the next morning (with the exception of produce). Not only will you be getting fresher product, they will have empty boxes available in carts throughout the store -- VERY handy for a store that charges for bags. Failing that, bring plenty of reusable bags (I often forget).
* Shop the aisles in order. That way you'll get your refrigerated and frozen stuff last.
* Always keep a quarter in your car to get a shopping cart. Sometimes, I don't have change, or I have change but no quarters.
* Aldi takes cash and debit cards ONLY.
When I first started to Aldi, the closest Aldi was about a half hour's drive away, so I didn't do it that frequently. Later, a new Aldi opened up in my town, so consequently I now shop there more. The first few times in that new store I was very lost, but I quickly developed a routine.
In general, I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality of their various store brands, but some have been a disappointment (produce, meat). Here's what I typically buy there:
* Store brand (Millville) cereals.
* Store brand (Millville) granola bars and pop tarts, store brand (Southern Grove) trail mix, store brand (Lunch Buddies) fruit cups for work.
* Store brand (Lunch Buddies) Lunchables. On occasion, store brand (Fit & Active) Bachelor Chow meals for lunch.
* I used to buy store brand (Summit) colas/sodas until I got a SodaStream as a Christmas gift, so now I use that.
* Store brand (Breakfast Best) frozen breakfasts.
* Store brand (Kirkwood) frozen stuffed & breaded chicken.
* Store brand (Friendly Farms) milk and store brand (Gold Hen) eggs.
* Store brand (Softheart) water softener salt pellets (We have well water at home with a softener system.)
* Store brand (Chef's Cupboard) canned soups (though some are not so great).
* Frozen White Castle burgers (which they always seem to have, at least at the one in my town).
* Store brand (L'Oven Fresh) breads, bagels, and English muffins.
* If they have Marchuan brand Yakisoba meals (which they do fairly frequently, but not always) I stock up.
* Store brand (Bake House) frozen crescent rolls and cinnamon buns.
* Store brand (Mama Cozzi's) take-and-bake pizzas (not the frozen ones).
* Pasta sauces.
* Any special requests from my wife.
Here's what I try to avoid buying at Aldi, and instead buy at other grocery stores:
* Meat
* Cold Cuts
* Produce
* Vegetarian/vegan items (my wife is vegetarian), simply because Aldi is severely lacking in that department.
If you are dissatisfied with any Aldi store brand product for ANY reason, they will not only refund your money, but also give you a same product replacement for free. I put this to the test with a pasta sauce that turned out to have a bad seal on the jar, which we did not discover until we were trying to make pasta with sauce -- the sauce tasted like it had gone off. True to their word, they gave me my money back and a new jar of the same sauce (which was fine).
Did You Know?
Aldi is short for ALbrecht's DIscount.
Aldi is owned by the same parent company that owns Trader Joe's. I've noticed that the only difference between some Aldi store brand products and Trader Joe's store brand products are the price, brand name, and labeling (Trader Joe's Chocolate Chip Dunkers taste and look exactly the same to me as Benton's Chocolate Chip Dunkers).
posted by tckma at 8:13 AM on November 13, 2014
* I don't buy ground meat or cold cuts there because I haven't been happy with the quality.
* Produce quality there is very hit-or-miss. It tends to spoil more quickly.
* If you have a smartphone, download the Aldi app. It will tell you what this week's specials and next week's specials are. Failing that, take their flyer (next week's specials) on the way out the door. I believe their "week" changes on Wednesdays.
* Go in with a list of what you want, but be prepared to have to buy some items elsewhere. If you see a brand name item in the store that you like, get it. Aldi only stocks brand names when there is overstock from local suppliers they can get cheaply. I once bought a crapton of brand name stand-and-stuff taco kits
* Try to go about an hour before closing time. This is when (at least at my local Aldi's) they restock for the next morning (with the exception of produce). Not only will you be getting fresher product, they will have empty boxes available in carts throughout the store -- VERY handy for a store that charges for bags. Failing that, bring plenty of reusable bags (I often forget).
* Shop the aisles in order. That way you'll get your refrigerated and frozen stuff last.
* Always keep a quarter in your car to get a shopping cart. Sometimes, I don't have change, or I have change but no quarters.
* Aldi takes cash and debit cards ONLY.
When I first started to Aldi, the closest Aldi was about a half hour's drive away, so I didn't do it that frequently. Later, a new Aldi opened up in my town, so consequently I now shop there more. The first few times in that new store I was very lost, but I quickly developed a routine.
In general, I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality of their various store brands, but some have been a disappointment (produce, meat). Here's what I typically buy there:
* Store brand (Millville) cereals.
* Store brand (Millville) granola bars and pop tarts, store brand (Southern Grove) trail mix, store brand (Lunch Buddies) fruit cups for work.
* Store brand (Lunch Buddies) Lunchables. On occasion, store brand (Fit & Active) Bachelor Chow meals for lunch.
* I used to buy store brand (Summit) colas/sodas until I got a SodaStream as a Christmas gift, so now I use that.
* Store brand (Breakfast Best) frozen breakfasts.
* Store brand (Kirkwood) frozen stuffed & breaded chicken.
* Store brand (Friendly Farms) milk and store brand (Gold Hen) eggs.
* Store brand (Softheart) water softener salt pellets (We have well water at home with a softener system.)
* Store brand (Chef's Cupboard) canned soups (though some are not so great).
* Frozen White Castle burgers (which they always seem to have, at least at the one in my town).
* Store brand (L'Oven Fresh) breads, bagels, and English muffins.
* If they have Marchuan brand Yakisoba meals (which they do fairly frequently, but not always) I stock up.
* Store brand (Bake House) frozen crescent rolls and cinnamon buns.
* Store brand (Mama Cozzi's) take-and-bake pizzas (not the frozen ones).
* Pasta sauces.
* Any special requests from my wife.
Here's what I try to avoid buying at Aldi, and instead buy at other grocery stores:
* Meat
* Cold Cuts
* Produce
* Vegetarian/vegan items (my wife is vegetarian), simply because Aldi is severely lacking in that department.
If you are dissatisfied with any Aldi store brand product for ANY reason, they will not only refund your money, but also give you a same product replacement for free. I put this to the test with a pasta sauce that turned out to have a bad seal on the jar, which we did not discover until we were trying to make pasta with sauce -- the sauce tasted like it had gone off. True to their word, they gave me my money back and a new jar of the same sauce (which was fine).
Did You Know?
Aldi is short for ALbrecht's DIscount.
Aldi is owned by the same parent company that owns Trader Joe's. I've noticed that the only difference between some Aldi store brand products and Trader Joe's store brand products are the price, brand name, and labeling (Trader Joe's Chocolate Chip Dunkers taste and look exactly the same to me as Benton's Chocolate Chip Dunkers).
posted by tckma at 8:13 AM on November 13, 2014
Things I love at Aldi: their seasonal items like cheeses, mustards, Italian or German items, and sauces for stir fry. Also I love, love, love the Triple Chocolate ice cream cones and the Moose Tracks ice cream pops (chocolate or caramel) to the point where I stop in every week in the summer and get multiple boxes of each.
Things I have had to throw away because it was inedible: fake triscuits crackers, frozen cheesecake, bagels. And a few packs of those very same Triple Chocolate ice cream cones thta I love were really soggy and almost inedible.
posted by CathyG at 8:40 AM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
Things I have had to throw away because it was inedible: fake triscuits crackers, frozen cheesecake, bagels. And a few packs of those very same Triple Chocolate ice cream cones thta I love were really soggy and almost inedible.
posted by CathyG at 8:40 AM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
I shop for both myself and my elderly neighbor at our local Aldi's.
To my knowledge, there's no searchable database for what the individual Aldi's stores carry. Their website presumably list the things that all Aldi's should carry, but the prices may not be there--you'll have to wait until you get into the store to see the prices. It probably took me about five or six trips to really get a feel for the place and how they priced the items I want.
Like others above, I find Aldi's is the best place to get dairy/eggs, soy or almond milk, canned veggies/beans, dried beans, pasta, baking supplies, condiments, cereals/oatmeal, chocolate and snacks, and saltines.
I absolutely concur with MeghanC: Aldi's Mama Cozzi frozen pizzas are now my absolute favorite frozen pizzas. They always seem to be discounted, too. For my money, there is simply no better frozen pizza for $3.99.
I understand the reservations some folks have about the produce at Aldi's. Still, over the last four years I've found that there are some real gems in the produce section. I have yet to have any issues with: broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, onions, cucumbers, avocados, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, cantaloupes, grapes, and mangoes. In my Aldi's, salad mixes, romaine lettuce, baby kale, and baby spinach are found in bags or plastic containers in the cooler section where the dairy products are. I don't know if that affects the quality of those items, but they've been consistently good every time I've bought them.
I buy their cheapest canned soups to keep in my office drawer for a quick lunch. It's watery compared to Campbell's, but for the price I'm satisfied. I've only ever purchased loaves of wheat bread from Aldi's. Another "not the greatest, but for 99 cents it's good enough for me" product.
Frozen veggies and frozen fruit are of good quality but the prices tend to be hit or miss---some weeks they're higher than the other groceries, some weeks they aren't.
For my money, the only meat worth buying at Aldi's is the whole chickens, which I have never seen cost more than $0.95/lb. You get better prices on beef, pork, and fish from other groceries, unless Aldi's has some sort of special going.
What I avoid: their paper products. Toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, etc.. Price- and quality-wise I do much better on those at CostCo. Same for their detergents, personal hygiene products, and OTC medicines. Looked at the ingredients list on their dog food and noped right out of there.
posted by magstheaxe at 9:00 AM on November 13, 2014
To my knowledge, there's no searchable database for what the individual Aldi's stores carry. Their website presumably list the things that all Aldi's should carry, but the prices may not be there--you'll have to wait until you get into the store to see the prices. It probably took me about five or six trips to really get a feel for the place and how they priced the items I want.
Like others above, I find Aldi's is the best place to get dairy/eggs, soy or almond milk, canned veggies/beans, dried beans, pasta, baking supplies, condiments, cereals/oatmeal, chocolate and snacks, and saltines.
I absolutely concur with MeghanC: Aldi's Mama Cozzi frozen pizzas are now my absolute favorite frozen pizzas. They always seem to be discounted, too. For my money, there is simply no better frozen pizza for $3.99.
I understand the reservations some folks have about the produce at Aldi's. Still, over the last four years I've found that there are some real gems in the produce section. I have yet to have any issues with: broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, onions, cucumbers, avocados, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, cantaloupes, grapes, and mangoes. In my Aldi's, salad mixes, romaine lettuce, baby kale, and baby spinach are found in bags or plastic containers in the cooler section where the dairy products are. I don't know if that affects the quality of those items, but they've been consistently good every time I've bought them.
I buy their cheapest canned soups to keep in my office drawer for a quick lunch. It's watery compared to Campbell's, but for the price I'm satisfied. I've only ever purchased loaves of wheat bread from Aldi's. Another "not the greatest, but for 99 cents it's good enough for me" product.
Frozen veggies and frozen fruit are of good quality but the prices tend to be hit or miss---some weeks they're higher than the other groceries, some weeks they aren't.
For my money, the only meat worth buying at Aldi's is the whole chickens, which I have never seen cost more than $0.95/lb. You get better prices on beef, pork, and fish from other groceries, unless Aldi's has some sort of special going.
What I avoid: their paper products. Toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, etc.. Price- and quality-wise I do much better on those at CostCo. Same for their detergents, personal hygiene products, and OTC medicines. Looked at the ingredients list on their dog food and noped right out of there.
posted by magstheaxe at 9:00 AM on November 13, 2014
I concur that their dog food is likely to slowly kill my dogs or make them sick were I to buy it, from looking at the ingredient list. Also, their paper products and personal hygiene products leave much to be desired.
My local Aldi's seems to always carry a very specific variety of Crest brand name toothpaste that my wife insists upon getting, at a cheaper price than anywhere else. (Since I'm toothpaste-brand-agnostic, I go with that.)
(Ah, the German stuff is seasonal! I was wondering why the Deutsche Kuche stuff that was new that I tried suddenly disappeared -- I thought it was a new product line. I thought, "but I liked a lot of that stuff, why did they get rid of it?")
posted by tckma at 11:24 AM on November 13, 2014
My local Aldi's seems to always carry a very specific variety of Crest brand name toothpaste that my wife insists upon getting, at a cheaper price than anywhere else. (Since I'm toothpaste-brand-agnostic, I go with that.)
(Ah, the German stuff is seasonal! I was wondering why the Deutsche Kuche stuff that was new that I tried suddenly disappeared -- I thought it was a new product line. I thought, "but I liked a lot of that stuff, why did they get rid of it?")
posted by tckma at 11:24 AM on November 13, 2014
Same for their detergents, personal hygiene products, and OTC medicines.
The Lacura creams are German-made, and those in a position to judge say that if it isn't rebadged Nivea, it certainly has a close resemblance. Aldi in other countries sells makeup and nail polish (either French or German-made, ) but discontinued those lines in the US a few years ago. (A good rule of thumb is that anything made in western Europe is worth a try, particularly the German specials.)
Many seasonal items return to stock pretty much the exact week each year: the cheap enamelled cast iron cookware arrives next week, as it has done every November. That stuff isn't Le Creuset, and the enamel does wear with use, but it's well worth $30.
posted by holgate at 12:32 PM on November 13, 2014
The Lacura creams are German-made, and those in a position to judge say that if it isn't rebadged Nivea, it certainly has a close resemblance. Aldi in other countries sells makeup and nail polish (either French or German-made, ) but discontinued those lines in the US a few years ago. (A good rule of thumb is that anything made in western Europe is worth a try, particularly the German specials.)
Many seasonal items return to stock pretty much the exact week each year: the cheap enamelled cast iron cookware arrives next week, as it has done every November. That stuff isn't Le Creuset, and the enamel does wear with use, but it's well worth $30.
posted by holgate at 12:32 PM on November 13, 2014
Ah aldi, after the first time I have been hooked at Aldi.
Aldi positive
- Cheaper
- Good value items
- No choice overload
- Easy to navigate
Negatives
- Hit or miss on produce, as people have said fruits/vegetables tend to spoil more
- Long lines - Aldi is staffed by one or two employees who man registers and unload boxes+manager which means especially evenings, weekends there is a huge register
- Some name brands are better than Aldi brands (mayo, ketchup etc).
When i went to Germany recently, I made it a point to go to aldi Sud:
German Aldi for the two times I was there is 2 to 3 times larger than the american aldi and offer a lot more special items, cheese and meat. Apart from that , they have vending machine style bread machine which is glorious.
posted by radsqd at 10:40 AM on November 14, 2014
Aldi positive
- Cheaper
- Good value items
- No choice overload
- Easy to navigate
Negatives
- Hit or miss on produce, as people have said fruits/vegetables tend to spoil more
- Long lines - Aldi is staffed by one or two employees who man registers and unload boxes+manager which means especially evenings, weekends there is a huge register
- Some name brands are better than Aldi brands (mayo, ketchup etc).
When i went to Germany recently, I made it a point to go to aldi Sud:
German Aldi for the two times I was there is 2 to 3 times larger than the american aldi and offer a lot more special items, cheese and meat. Apart from that , they have vending machine style bread machine which is glorious.
posted by radsqd at 10:40 AM on November 14, 2014
From Reddit's EatCheapAndHealthy sub:
I noticed a lot of you love Aldi. I'm a shift manager there. AMA and I'll tell you the truth.
posted by magstheaxe at 6:41 AM on November 20, 2014
I noticed a lot of you love Aldi. I'm a shift manager there. AMA and I'll tell you the truth.
posted by magstheaxe at 6:41 AM on November 20, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
Go in there with a list. Find what I can. Ask staff to help me find things I can't find on my own. Cross things off the list as I get them. Bring my own bags for the packing bench, because they don't bag stuff at the register. Practice cooperating with the checkout staff to get things back into my trolley as quickly as they can scan them.
Visit my old supermarket on the way home to pick up anything I couldn't cross off the Aldi list.
Occasionally pick up some piece of random hardware that happens to be on sale this week; so far I've been very happy with the price/performance ratio of Aldi's random offerings.
posted by flabdablet at 6:54 PM on November 12, 2014 [3 favorites]