aldi food quality reviews
21 Best and Worst Things to Buy at Aldi
A first-time experience at an American Aldi store can be a bit of a culture shock. You have to pay a quarter to rent a shopping cart (or buggy, as some call it). National brand-name products are rare.
The cashier scans your selected products, places them back in the cart and points you to a bagging area (thats your job; hope you brought bags).The final shock comes with what you pay for those groceries. In these times of soaring grocery prices up 14.9% in May alone compared to a year ago, according to data site Numerator youre more than likely paying far less at Aldi. That's one reason to check it out right now.
The no-frills German supermarket chain has more than 2,000 stores in 36 states offering super-low prices on brand-name knockoffs, European foods and one-off deals. Indeed, 90% of Aldi's products are exclusive store brands, and many mimic the packaging and product of national brands. We found several great items at Aldi that deserve a spot on your grocery list based on quality or value or both. Thats good news as all of us are looking to cut corners on rampaging grocery bills.
Even so, after checking in with shopping experts, as well as doing comparison-shopping (and taste-testing) on our own at stores in Virginia, we found that some deals at Aldi aren't worth it. First of all, brand-name knock offs don't always taste as good as the real deal (though well make an exception with Kirkland Signature products from Costco). Second, Aldi doesn't accept manufacturers' coupons or offer a loyalty program. That means you can find certain brand-name products at other retailers at prices comparable to Aldi's knockoffs once you factor in sales, coupons and loyalty perks. Take a look at what to buy and what to avoid at Aldi.
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12 Foods Im Buying in the Aldi Flyer This Week
12 Foods Im Buying in the Aldi Flyer This Week
If you want to save money at Aldi, you need to check out their weekly ad. Every Wednesday, Aldi releases their weekly circular for grocery specials, including price reductions on foods like meat, produce, and snacks, which you can find on the circular or by searching the red and white Aldi Savers signs throughout the store. I go to Aldi every week to do some of my grocery shopping, and this weeks Aldi ad (April 24 April 30) had a few products that I really like. If youre wondering what I picked up, heres my list.
Remember that not all stores carry the same products, so the weekly specials at your local store can be slightly different from mine. Next weeks Aldi flyer will drop on May 1. Make sure to come back here, and Ill let you know whats on my shopping list.
1. Mighties Kiwi $3.99 per 2 pounds
Kiwi is one of the underrated fruits. Each fuzzy little kiwi is packed with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. I like mixing them into smoothies or eating them as-is with a spoon, especially in the spring and summer.
Right now, you can snag a pack of ten kiwis for just $3.99 thanks to this weeks Aldi Ad. If that sounds like too much kiwi to eat within a week or two, you can always freeze some for later.
2. Blackberries $1.49 per 6 oz
Fresh blackberries can be pretty pricey, so I was shocked to see this 6 oz package on sale at Aldi for just $1.89 this week. With blackberry season about to ramp up, nows the time to stock up.
As you can tell from the photo, these blackberries are just as succulent as the ones sold at Whole Foods for three or four times the price!
3. Fresh USDA Choice Seasoned Beef Chuck Roast for Birria $5.29 per pound
This Aldi Savers item is one of the best deals in this weeks ad. For just $5.29 per pound, you can enjoy seasoned beef chuck roast, which is slow-cooker ready. All you need to do is turn on your Crock-Pot!
After this meat cooks low and slow for a few hours, itll be fork-tender and ready to be added to your tacos, burritos, nachos, or whatever other Mexican cuisine you plan to cook up for Cinco de Mayo.
4. Specially Selected Artisan Flatbread $2.99
This next find on the flyer is usually on sale for $3.99, which is already a great deal, but its even sweeter this week at just $2.99 per pack! Each pack comes with two stone oven-baked artisan flatbreads. I usually use these to make personal pizzas since theyre the perfect size for one.
Ive also ripped these into pieces and used them as a scooper for hummus and buffalo chicken dip before. You can even cut these into strips and use them as the bread for your panini. Basically, whatever you usually use regular bread for, try switching it out for this super cheap (and delicious) artisan flatbread.
5. Fresh Jumbo Pack Chicken Drumsticks 89 cents per pound
This photo may not be overly appetizing, but that doesnt change the fact that this item is a great deal on this weeks circular. For 89 cents per pound, you can enjoy fresh chicken drumsticks. The 12-pack pictured above comes out to just $5.70.
Bake these in the oven with a few spices and cooking oil, and youll have crispy, meaty drumsticks in under an hour. My go-to blend for chicken is smoked paprika, garlic, onion powder, oregano, a pinch of cayenne, and, of course, salt and pepper.
6. Loven Fresh Deli Rolls $2.65
Loven is a dependable Aldi brand and my personal go-to for bread every week. Their deli rolls are currently on sale in this weeks ad for just $2.65. With six rolls per pack, each roll costs less than 50 cents.
These are incredibly versatile. You can use them to make a classic turkey and cheese sandwich or as a vessel for your meatball sub. They also freeze well if you want to stock up for later.
7. Happy Farms Deli-Sliced Muenster or Mozzarella Cheese $1.89
Deli-sliced cheeses can easily reach $5 per pack nowadays, so getting a pack for $1.89 is almost unheard of. The best part? Aldis deli cheese tastes just as good (if not better) than the more expensive stuff.
Right now, you can get muenster or mozzarella deli-sliced cheese for less than $2. Each slice is pretty thick, too. I usually use these on sandwiches, but Ive also used the mozzarella on top of homemade pizza and in meatball subs.
8. Happy Farms Mozzarella Shredded Cheese $3.69
This weeks Aldi ad isnt playing around when it comes to mozzarella. Its also sold in shredded form. This one-pound bag goes for just $3.69. I use shredded mozzarella in almost every meal I cook pasta, scrambled eggs, sandwiches, chicken, you name it, so I like to stock up whenever Aldi runs a sale on it.
Shredded cheese usually stays fresh in the fridge for a while, but you can freeze it if you think you wont be able to finish the bag before it goes bad.
9. Kirkwood Chicken Fries $5.09
Who doesnt love chicken fries?! If youve never tried them, theyre just chicken nuggets in the shape of a french fry, yet they taste a thousand times better than their normally-shaped counterparts.
These are fully cooked, so you only need to pop them in the oven for a few minutes before theyre good to go. For $5.09 a bag, I picked up one to make a protein-packed snack or easy dinner entree.
10. Park Street Deli Pork or Chicken Egg Rolls $3.59
Ive always been impressed by Aldis Asian cuisine, and these egg rolls are no exception. For $3.59, you get six hefty egg rolls, either filled with chicken and veggies or pork and veggies.
These taste almost identical to the egg rolls at my local Chinese takeout place, and at about 50 cents per roll, theyre a lot less expensive, too.
11. Priano Classic Cheese or Spinach & Mozzarella Ravioli $3.69
These refrigerated raviolis are the easiest dinner youll ever throw together. As you can tell from the photo, each ravioli pillow is fairly large and holds a good amount of filling.
You can choose between Five Cheese Ravioli, which features ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, romano, and provolone, or Spinach & Mozzarella, which comes with you guessed it spinach and mozzarella.
These cook super quickly and are so flavorful that youll need just a bit of butter or olive oil to finish them (tomato sauce will work well, too.)
12. Bob Evans Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes $3.99
Im all for homemade mashed potatoes because I love being able to control how much butter, salt, and spice goes into them. But sometimes, I just want mashed potatoes without the chopping, boiling, and mashing. For those times, Bob Evans mashed potatoes are a solid replacement.
These are made with real butter, fresh potatoes, and no artificial flavors. The package is actually a lot bigger than it looks in the photo it could easily feed up to 6 people. Theyre ready to eat after a quick trip to the microwave, and you can add extra salt, pepper, or other fixings after warming up to make them feel more homemade.
Aldi Cat Food Review
Weve rated Aldi Cat Food on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Aldi Cat Food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com StandardRating Aldi Cat Food On What Matters
Weve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Heres how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness 5/10
- Ingredient Quality 4/10
- Product Variety 6/10
- Price 8/10
- Customer Experience 7/10
- Recall History 8/10
Overall Score: 6.3/10
In total, we give Aldi cat food a 38 out of 60 rating or a C+ grade.
About Aldi Cat Food
Aldi is one of the fastest growing grocery stores in the United States. Originally from Germany and other parts of Europe, Aldi now has about 7,600 stores worldwide. When it comes to their pet food products, Aldi has their own in-store brand called Heart to Tail.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Distributed and sold exclusively by Aldi, Heart to Tail wet foods are a product of Canada while their dry pet food products are made in the U.S. We werent able to find any specific information about who manufactures Aldis cat foods or where they source their ingredients.
Recall History
To my knowledge, Aldi cat foods have never been recalled.
What Kinds Of Cat Food Does Aldi Offer?
Aldi offers two different product lines for cat food. The original Heart to Tail line includes classic recipes for dry food and wet food while the Pure Being line focuses on higher quality ingredients. Overall, their product selection is somewhat limited compared to major pet food brands, but it offers a decent variety at an economical price point for budget-wary shoppers.
What Do Customers Think Of Aldi Cat Food?
Aldi doesnt post reviews of their products on their website and because Heart to Tail products arent sold anywhere else, I wasnt able to find many customer reviews online.
I did, however, find one detailed review on a blog called Aldi Reviewer. Here, the blogger provides a detailed review of Aldis Heart to Tail cat foods, focusing primarily on the wet food products. She comments that her cats seemed to like both, though they preferred the wet to the dry food varieties.
Though I didnt find much in the way of customer reviews online, I imagine the comments would be similar to other inexpensive and grocery store brands like 9 Lives and Fancy Feast. The quality of the ingredients leaves something to be desired, though its hard to beat the price and there will always be cats who simply love cheap cat food.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Bagel seemed to prefer the Pure Being dry food formula which was my preference as well, in terms of quality. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Testing Aldis cat food was tricky because one of my cats is allergic to chicken. Though some of Aldis canned foods dont list chicken as an ingredient, they do contain poultry by-products which could come from chicken. The two cats who were able to test these foods didnt seem to take issue with them.
As for Aldis dry cat foods, all of those seem to contain chicken or chicken by-products as well. My cats were happy to eat them but they didnt exhibit the same level of excitement theyve had over some of the other brands weve tested.
Aldi Cat Food Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
How Much Does Aldi Cat Food Cost?
As a discount store brand, Aldi cat food is very economical. Prices may differ slightly in different areas, but you should expect to pay less than $0.50 per can for wet food. For a 3.15-pound bag of Heart to Tail dry food youll pay about $3.50 while a bag of Pure Being dry food costs about $6.50.
Overall, Is Aldi Cat Food A Good Choice?
The best thing I can say about Aldi cat food is that it is affordable. With dry foods priced under $0.15 per ounce and canned foods under $0.10 per ounce, Heart to Tail cat food is incredibly economical.
Before you fill your cart with Aldi cat food, however, I urge you to consider what youre feeding your cat. None of the products I reviewed earned over a B- rating, and that really only because it started with a quality source of animal protein. For the most part, Aldis dry cat food is plant-based with low-quality animal or plant proteins and their wet food isnt much better.
Overall, Id say you can do much better than Aldi cat food, though you may have to spend a few cents more per ounce. If youre shopping only by cost and convenience, reach for Pure Being dry foods or one of their canned foods that uses real animal protein rather than by-products as the first ingredient.
Where Is Aldi Cat Food Sold?
Aldi cat food from the Heart to Tail and Pure Being lines is sold exclusively in Aldi stores. You can also purchase Aldi products including their cat food online for delivery through Instacart.
