15 Things You Should Always Buy at Aldi
Updated: May 05, 2023Run, don't walk, over to Aldi for some amazing deals.
Aldi is rapidly expanding in the United States and for good reason. With a mission of providing easier ways to save money on high-quality groceries, they certainly deliver. Approximately 90 percent of Aldi’s products are exclusively store brand that mimic the taste and packaging of known companies. After checking with shopping experts and doing some research, we rounded up the best products that you should definitely reserve for your trip to Aldi. If this store is new to you, find out what exactly Aldi is and why everyone is talking about it.
Wine
Aldi is known for selling affordable and delicious wine. In fact, there is an entire Aldi wine list dedicated to the bottles that have won various awards. Various Aldi-specific wines have won awards from Wine Spectator, The American Masters of Taste Awards, and the International Wine and Spirit Competition, among others, per the Aldi official website. Refinery29 reports there are more than 37 different wines at Aldi that cost less than $10, however, prices may vary per store. Before you stock up, read this buyer’s guide on the best Aldi wine.
Chocolate
Since wine is a popular Aldi shopping staple, it makes sense that chocolate is too. The German-owned company reportedly deals with lots of European suppliers, meaning they also have lots of imported treats—including chocolate. According to The Kitchn, you can find high-quality great-tasting chocolate at Aldi for as little as $2 per 4.4 ounces. Read up on the truth about these 10 popular Aldi rumors.
Bread
Aldi sells tons of different types of bread including brioche, whole wheat, rolls, Italian bread, bagels, even English muffins, and more. Not only do their breads have solid reviews, but they sell for an affordable price, per The Kitchn. Their fresh white bread retails for about $0.89 making it a steal in comparison to the average retail price of white bread in the United States at $2.46, according to numbeo.com. See the real reason why your local Aldi store doesn’t have a phone number.
Butter
According to reports, 16 oz. of butter at Aldi is $2.56, cheaper than what you can find at Kroger (although Walmart offers the same deal.) Here’s why Aldi’s groceries are so cheap.
Cheese
Similarly to their chocolate selection, Aldi has excellent cheeses from grass-fed cheddar to gouda and everything in between. These fancier flavors range in price anywhere from $2 to $5, according to some reports. “Best of all, Aldi has won numerous awards for their delicious cheeses, so you’re guaranteed they are of the best quality,” says Jeremy Harrison, founder of Hustle Life. “Aldi can sell their products at a lower price simply because they’re efficient and have low overhead.”
Yogurt
Yes, Aldi has even more dairy at reasonable prices. For a 32-ounce container, Aldi’s yogurt goes for $3.69, while single servings of yogurt go for $0.39 each.
Paper plates
Although paper plates aren’t necessarily the most economical purchase since they are made for one use, sometimes you just can’t fathom washing any more dishes. The price point is what makes Aldi paper plates so attractive for those lazy situations. Some price comparisons even find that Aldi’s prices rival Walmart’s. Plus, Aldi paper plates are often also found in the red hot deals section. (More on that later.)
Canned foods
Whatever you can find in a can—including broth, beans, tomatoes, applesauce, and various veggies—are good items to buy at Aldi. Plus, they have a similar selection to other grocery stores. One blogger found canned foods at Aldi for as little as $0.65 each. Check out more grocery savings secrets from a supermarket insider.
Baking essentials
Add other baking essentials to your cart filled with butter and chocolate. According to Kiplinger, baking must-haves like flour, sugar, and oil are a steal at Aldi in comparison to other name brands. For example, the Aldi Baker’s Corner store brand sells a 32.8-ounce bag of brown sugar for $1.29 in comparison to Domino’s light brown sugar which retails for $2.69 per 32-ounce bag, per Kiplinger. On the contrary, see which things you should never buy at Aldi.
Organic goods
If you like buying organic-anything or organic-everything, Aldi is a great alternative to pricer health-food stores or websites. According to Go Banking Rates, Aldi has lower prices on everything from organic produce and beef to organic grains and coffee. You can reportedly find organics at Aldi for up to 50 percent less than Whole Foods, per gobankingrates.com.
Anything from the Red Hot Specials
The red hot specials section at Aldi is exactly what you think—even better deals on your favorite goods. The retailer updates the specials on their website weekly so you can see what deals are available at your closest Aldi location. Don’t miss these important things your grocer won’t tell you.
Produce
The produce at Aldi has mixed reviews concerning quality. Their prices, however, are undeniably competitive with some items such as apples, strawberries, blueberries, and avocado, among others, retailing for less than Costco, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s in a price comparison test, per The Kitchn. That said, be sure to double-check the freshness of anything you buy.
Milk
Another great steal at Aldi is milk. According to Andrew Roderick, CEO of Credit Repair Companies, Aldi’s milk is on average 50 percent cheaper than its competitors. “Milk is so cheap at Aldi that new customers double check the labels to verify it hasn’t passed its sell-by date,” says Roderick. “Price doesn’t always mean premium and the reverse isn’t true either. Aldi proudly guarantees that ALL their milk is free of artificial growth hormones, aka filler normally used in cheaper brands to bulk out the liquid.” Check out these supermarket shopping secrets from America’s top grocery stores.
Cereal
Aldi has an extensive cereal selection stocked with tons of brand name dupes. The best part is that these dupes are made with ingredients that are overall healthier for you, but still taste just like the original. Many of these cereals use natural dyes and no added sugar for a better breakfast.
Meat
Every Wednesday, Aldi offered a “Fresh Meat Special Buy” which is usually top-cut meats such as brisket or pork chops at very low prices. These meat specials sell out fast, so it’s best to go early. Next, see what you should definitely not buy at Aldi.
Sources
- Jeremy Harrison, Founder
- Andrew Roderick, CEO
- Refinery29: “Aldi Wines Under $10 That Will Make Every Day Wine Wednesday”
- Kitchn: “The 5 Best Chocolates to Buy at Aldi — For Valentine’s Day and Beyond”
- Kitchn: “We Tried More than a Dozen Different Breads at Aldi and These Were the Five Best Ones”
- Clark: “Aldi vs. Kroger vs. Walmart: Which Grocery Store Has the Lowest Prices?”
- Kitchn: “A Ranking of the Best Cheeses at Aldi”
- ToughNickel: “250+ Grocery Items You Can Buy at Aldi for $1.19 or Less”
- Kiplinger: “21 Best and Worst Things to Buy at Aldi”
- Kitchn: “We Compared Produce Prices at Costco, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Whole Foods — Here’s What We Learned”
