what foods are good from Aldis?

[garagerdoormomma]

My first time at Aldis was over the summer. My mom & I were appalled that you had to actually pay for a cart. LOL When we hit the checkout and our bill was so low we finally understood how it worked! Now I love Aldis but I'm hesitant to try new things incase they aren't very good. I'd love to know what foods are tasty and which you don't care for.

We love the $1.99 pizzas, the chicken paties, the salad, the spaghetti sauce, the ice creams, mac & cheese, tuna, cereals, breads. & $1 oreo cookie rip offs. Everytime I shop there I'm always buying the same things (about 25 of their products.)

The hamburgers and sausage we've found bone in so now steer clear of them. Also, the kids fruit snacks were very greasy as was the .79 cheese.

I'd love to hear any suggestions. We also have a save a lot and big lots but I've never been to them. Am I missing out?

Thanks Shannon

[sunshine]

I avoid the cheese slices, but love the block cheese. . . I also detest their instant tea, but the tea bags are good.

We like:

cereals
soda
chips
baking goods
canned fruits
canned veggies
cheese whiz type stuff
rice-a-roni stuff
Little Debbie type snacks
diapers
frozen ground turkey


It's mostly a taste thing I guess--- you know what you like and what you won't accept. I just tried one of an item until I knew if we'd eat it.

[BlessedMommy]

Ranch dressing
baby carrots
tortillas
block cheese
baking supplies, esp. choc. chips

[slowtypinwoman]

Here is my list
~Tortilla chips
~ salad
~ Ranch dressing
~ Itallian dressing ( great for a marinade!)
~ corn chips
~milk
~refried beans
~ taco mix
~ peperoni
~ Applesauce (Alex loved the cinnamon kind we tried this week)
~ canned veggies
~ t.p. ( the paper towels, which we use sparingly are cheaper in the 3 pack from W*M)
~ Chicken broth
~ Chili in a can ( we only use this on chili dogs)
~ block cheeze
~yogart ( I like the smooth king better)
~ olive oil ( better than the W*M brand)
~cr. of chix soup
~ Bread ( whole wheat)
~ Buns ( cheaper than W*M)
~ chicken breasts
~ chicken Drummies
~ Fruit cocktail Light syrup
There this is my standard from Aldi's
The fruit is hit and miss but when veggies are off season like zucchinni is now the 3 packs cant be beat

[Early Bird]

It's been a long time since I lived near an Aldi. How much are their bottled salad dressings?

[AmyMCGS]

They also have a chicken cordon bleu patty that's pretty good.

Originally posted by garagerdoormomma
My first time at Aldis was over the summer. My mom & I were appalled that you had to actually pay for a cart. LOL

I can totally relate!  The first time I ever went there an elderly  woman met me in the parking lot and insisted on selling me her cart for a quarter-- I thought she was joking-- she told me you have to do that to get your quarter back.  I was so confused.... then later I learned that you can get your quarter back by returning your cart and pushing the little key-type thing into the slot.    

And yes, I'd say if you love Aldis you will definitely love Big Lots.  I get all kinds of grocery deals there!  Save A Lot is ok, much like Aldis, but the one here in my city is tiny, so I usually stick with Aldis.

[Sara Noel]

Thanks for this thread. I haven't been to Aldis. There's one in Saginaw and I've been meaning to check it out. I can't wait to see what I come up with on a shopping trip there. I appreciate the input here. We're not a super picky bunch, but it's good to know some things to stay away from trying.

[Missy]

Never heard of the place, wonder if there is one here in town?

[i.m.cheap]

Mostly east of Colorado, I think. They are an international chain.
I ditto the chocolate chips! They are excellent. I like to buy vanilla extract there. Anything you are not happy with, they cheerfully refund your money. I have only returned one thing. Their Beaumont ground coffee. It was without a doubt the worst coffee I had ever had in my life. We love the powdered creamer they sell, however. I buy that all the time. Just stay away from the coffee. My regular Aldi's list follows:

White corn tortilla chips 89¢
Pancake mix (complete, just add water) 2 lbs. 89¢
Pancake syrup 24 oz. (very good) 99¢
Beaumont powdered creamer
Eggs (unless on sale for less somewhere else)
Flour Tortillas 69¢
Real Butter (this just went up 50¢ a lb.) $2.49
Olive Oil
Cream Cheese (sometime can find on sale elsewhere for less)
Rice 3 lb. bag 99¢
Dry pinto beans
Honey
Onion Soup mix (2 pack) 49¢
Canned pear halves, light peaches, pineapple, mandarin oranges, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup
Bag salad 1 lb. 79¢
Ranch dressing 16 oz. 89¢
Baby carrots 1 lb. 99¢
Bagels 6 LARGE 99¢
Frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast
Frozen salmon filets
Frozen peas, and corn
Frozen OJ 12 oz. 79¢

[Peaches]

Are the Aldi stores in the U.S. like the Aldi in the U.K. - carrying lots of continental and european foods? I personally love Aldi and I only go to my local supermarket or Costco for things I can't get at Aldi, or for things which they do cheaper than Aldi, which isn't much.

I've never been to an Aldi in the U.S. (there's one near my mom's house, but we didn't go the last time I visited), but in the U.K. they have some of the best cheeses and continental meats (like salami, pepperoni, chorizo) around. I agree their fruit and veg can be a bit hit and miss. If it's nonseasonal, it's not very good - but then it's not very frugal to buy nonseasonal fruit and veg anyway!

[AmyMCGS]

A word of caution to those of you who've never been there-- they only take cash and food stamps. Maybe that's just my local store (?), but, still I thought it was worth mentioning so nobody gets caught with a cartful and only their checkbook to pay with.

[i.m.cheap]

The Aldi's here take debit cards now, but NO Checks, and NO Credit cards.

Oh, and the brownie mix is good, too! and only 99¢ (makes a 9x13 pan)

[jettsmom]

I just tried the ground turkey in the roll. It's just as good and only .69/lb. We really like the burritos .29. THe small frozen pizzas .89. We like the hot dogs, but not the really cheap ones. The ones in the 2 lb package are pretty good. I use the mexican chili beans in my taco soup. I use the laundry soup, fabric softener, dish & dishwasher soap, maxi pads, baby wipes. Most of the produce is good. I don't buy much of the fruit, because we like it a little fresher. I don't always buy the bread, because it doesn't stay as fresh. I usually get the oat bran. The powdered lemonade is just like country time. The bottled grape and apple juices have no sugar added and are good. There isn't much that we don't like. The terriyaki pork loin is really good.

[graci42]

I love my Aldi's...over all they beat Save A Lot's prices by .10 to .30 per item.

My usual list:
Corn flakes .89
Sugar 1.79
Peanut Butter 1.19 to 1.29
Crackers .59
Milk 2.59 for whole
eggs .69 to .79
Brick Cheese 1.49
Mac/cheese .29
Rice .89
Salad dressing--ranch and italian .89
Soy sauce .99
Ketchup .99
Mustard .49
canned veggies .33
small tomato sauce (canned) .19
mex style chili beans .33
baked beans .33
fresh produce...be careful
carrots (whole) 2 lbs. .79
bread .39 20oz
tea bags 100 ct 1.49
margarine 3lb tub 1.19
baking soda .29
salt .23

I've been steering clear of soups lately...making my own. I love Aldi's!

[i.m.cheap]

I second Graci's advice about the produce. I do not buy the bananas, even though they are 25¢ a pound. They seem to go from green to brown rapidly, almost without turning yellow in between. Wierd. I have purchased a head of lettuce there that looked perfectly good when I examined it in the store, but the very next day, when I went to serve it, I pulled off the still very green and fresh looking outer leaf or two, and the rest of the head was all brown and nasty. I threw the whole thing in the trash.