Predictably, the week of Valentine’s is the week when steaks and other fixin’s for fancy at-home suppers are on sale. Even Aldi is on the action.
Last week I told you that I have started to buy all my produce at Aldi because it is soooo much cheaper than the grocery store. I got lots of questions about the quality. Yes, I find it to be decent quality (if it helps you psychologically, know that Aldi is owned by the same folks that own Trader Joe’s). Sure, sometimes they are almost out of something and the few that are left are bad, but that same thing happens at the grocery store so it doesn’t deter me.
If you’ve never shopped at Aldi bring a quarter (not 25 cents, but a quarter) for the refundable deposit on your cart and your own bags. They take cash or debit card, but not credit card. Find an Aldi near you.
Produce
Navel oranges. $0.35/lb (sold in 4-lb bag for $1.39)
Cantaloupe. $0.99 each
Apples. $0.57/lb. (sold in 3-lb bag for $1.69)
Pears. $0.57/lb. (sold in 28-ounce container for $0.99)
Meat
Despite the many advertised sale prices, the only thing that grabbed me was the pork tenderloin. $2.99/lb is a pretty good price, I think??
I used to buy produce at Aldi and then was disappointed with the quality. But maybe it has gotten better since I last was shopping there. Any more opinions?
I have had one produce item that was bad when I cut it open (pineapple) but I just brought it back and got a new one, no questions asked. that one was very good! I have also come across bad produce at cub, rainbow and target, and did not have a very easy time returning at these places.
Traci – Good point. I think Aldi actually has a double price guarantee (or something like that). If you aren’t satisified they’ll return the item AND give you a refund. With that assurance it’s certainly worth a try.
Carrie – yes I think that you are right and I was thinking about that (getting my money back) but I thought I just want a good pineapple and as we all know produce can be hit or miss.
I have a good friend that worked at Aldi last summer, as a manager, for about a week. He was asked on a few occasions to transport produce from one store to another in his car (~1 hour drive). I haven’t shopped at Aldi since because it made me wonder if they do this with other things. Maybe this was an isolated incident but I just thought that I’d give people a heads up.
You should try calling or asking the manager of your local Aldi, and asking when they get their produce in. Unless the store is in a high-traffic area, produce only gets shipped in once a week. Of course, as mentioned above, if the produce is less than quality, you could always bring it back.
I’ve always found the produce to be great quality, but, then again, I always shop on Thursday or Friday (Thursdays are when my store gets produce in).
I’ve found Aldi to be better quality in produce than Cub.
I’ve had excellent produce at ALDI’s…in fact, that’s mostly what I buy there. We’ve gotten pineapple three different times and been slow to cut it and it was excellent each time. Their apples, oranges and bananas are wonderful!
I’ve had pretty good luck with produce as well. Especially the pineapples. They are always cheap and I’ve never had a bad one. Their bananas are a little strange, though. If you buy them green, they never get yellow. They go right from green to brown. They still are ripe and taste ok, just the color and texture of the skin is weird. Anyway, don’t know if anyone else has noticed. I shop the ALDI in Fridley. Haven’t been there for awhile, though.
Bill – LOL! I have noticed that with my bananas too. I actually buy an exta few pounds, let them ripen until they are really brown, then peel and freeze them. Great for smoothies, but also to blend with just a little milk. My kids think it is banana ice cream :)
LOL as well, same thing here on the bananas (weird)
Why have I NEVER thought of freezing bananas for smoothies??!!
When my bananas get brown (if I can get some away from my son) I put them in the freezer for banana bread later!
Thanks for all the feedback. I will call and find out when they get their produce in – I go to the Hopkins Crossroad Aldi. Maybe I was hitting them at the back end of the week, hence my disappointment.
Lisa – did you find out when they get their produce in? I’m wanting to go there tonight on my way home from work…
I bought some oranges from Aldi last week and they were wonderful! I am always cautious about oranges (anywhere…they are so iffy) and I was super happy! I am going back this week to get more…I hope they are just as good!
Great zucchini and jalepenos, too! I have been terribly disappointed by produce at Target, so this has been a great source for my family.
Aldi now accepts credit cards (at least the stores I frequent do), which is nice if you don’t regularly carry cash or have a debit card.
Does Aldi carry any organic produce?