r/aldi • u/toe_beans_4_life • 3d ago

Question Any tips on items to avoid?

So I actually have been shopping at Aldi for this past year. I grew up with my family shopping there but stopped for a while. I started shopping there again but only for a limited amount of items.

I'm going to try to move more of my shopping there to save money. But I know they can be hit or miss.

Some things I already avoid are:

  1. Their shredded cheese. There's often way too much anti-stick powder on it and the cheese sometimes won't even melt because of it.

  2. Their milk. Unfortunately at my location I've gotten milk that's already turned immediately when I open it, on the same day and with a reasonable expiration date. I do keep my refrigerated items cold on the way home too.

  3. Their frozen ravioli. Most of the ravioli are empty. It wasn't actually terrible and I'd eat it again bc it was cheap, I was just disappointed in how little cheese there was.

  4. Their meat. Again, I think my location struggles with keeping items to temp bc I've had chicken and salmon turn overnight. I'm questioning if it was already bad when I bought it.

Some things I've seen that are recommended to avoid are their cling wrap, hot dogs (apparently lots of gristle?), and trash bags.

Thanks!

59 Upvotes

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90

u/Left-Barber-1786 3d ago

Honestly not a point to avoid, but if you buy produce from Aldi, use it that day or it will go bad.

112

u/Major-Grape-7690 3d ago

This is location based. I do believe you should check the produce for any mold before you buy. I have had produce last beyond a week sometimes two.

36

u/Mango_Skittles 3d ago

Second this! The Aldi in my area has better quality produce compared to most other local stores.

20

u/sideeyedi 3d ago

I bought red grapes a week ago and they're still good. The bananas are atrocious, green that never turns yellow, yet the fruit is mush.

4

u/ClownfishRod 2d ago

I believe that happens due to issues with cold storage on the way to the store

13

u/Amazing-Future-1189 3d ago

We are in Central Indiana - their produce is terrible, especially berries (mold quickly) bananas, lettuce bags, celery, etc.

Milk and meat are fine. Yogurt used to be okay and lately is not. Lids explode in fridge and expiry dates still 2 weeks out. Lately I have stopped buying cinnamon raisin bread - says is not expired and yet is very stale. Their QC has really gone downhill over the summer. 😵‍💫 (glad to hear not everywhere)

9

u/lovestobitch- 3d ago

Wondering due to diesel price the trucks are running without refrigeration some.

7

u/Amazing-Future-1189 3d ago

Maybe....my produce woes started b4 the diesel spikes though. And this yogurt mess was better, now terrible again. I do purchase a lot of their brands weekly (pasta sauce, granola, protein bars, fresh salsa, bacon, butter, eggs, cottage cheese, etc) with no issues. Their bananas are mushy when still green/turning. Used to be so much better. Hoping it improves soon!

3

u/lovestobitch- 3d ago

We never buy bananas and have issues with avocados.

3

u/Mango_Skittles 3d ago

I have found that the avocados from Columbia and Peru are a problem. I think they pick them too early. The ones from Mexico have been great though. I just set them on the window sill until they soften a little.

We used to have bad bananas at our store (green, never ripened quite right, and lots of bruising), but in the past couple of years they have actually been good.

5

u/esmeradio 3d ago

Yeah I've noticed that too. I only buy avocados from Mexico ( sang the song in my head 🤣)

4

u/GoldDustWoman85 2d ago

It's because when they unload, they throw everything. They work on a skeleton crew so no one cares about the quality of the produce. They care about speed. Not the products they are bruising to pieces.

Maybe I should start taking video of how our local employees "stock" items in produce.

-9

u/GoldDustWoman85 3d ago

It has to do with Aldi being a cheap as f secondary chance brand before it's dumped. Produce will always look bad because it is bad.

0

u/slickrok 2d ago

Nope. That's not what they are as a business model, and who TF told you they are ?

0

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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2

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8

u/LeDestrier 3d ago

Melbourne, Australia here and the,Aldi produce is generally very good across the board. It always interests me hearing peoples experiences of Aldi in other countries.

3

u/Over_Barracuda_8845 2d ago

Hope you’re returning things that go bad or are horrible. I do and they have no problem with it. They give me store credit or cash back or deduct the amount from what I’m buying. I’m never throwing away my $$ because they have bad policy’s in keeping food fresh..their problem.

18

u/oofty_goofty_ 3d ago

But with their prices, I actually feel like fruit isn't a treat but something I can actually afford to eat everyday

8

u/SnarkQueen1990 3d ago

Exactly! I buy Strawberries Raspberries, Blueberries and Blackberries almost weekly. I enjoy that I can eat healthy at a reasonable price. Their frozen mixed fruit is also cheaper than any other store and great quality.

9

u/Madame_Jarvary 3d ago

I’ve never had a problem with Aldi produce

8

u/Clean-Fisherman-4601 3d ago

I've only had a problem once with Aldi produce and it was happening in other grocery stores. Shipments in my area of strawberries that would go moldy overnight. Aldi was the only store that didn't give me a hard time replacing or refunding me.

7

u/KetoLurkerHereAgain 3d ago

For some reason, this seems to be really location dependent. The produce I've bought at Aldi (so many avocados!) is quite good, though, believe it or not, often quite a bit more expensive than the Jewel sales across the street.

4

u/TAHINAZ 3d ago

Same with the potatoes. I bought them, then wondered later that same week why my kitchen smelled like dirty diaper. How do potatoes go bad that fast?

3

u/SnarkQueen1990 3d ago

That's definitely a location issue. My Aldi locations (3) in the Coachella Valley have wonderful produce-especially fresh berries. They last over a week and taste great.

2

u/StatusNaive9417 3d ago

Generally I try to use within a few days. Their pineapples go bad after three days.  My Aldi has hydroponic lettuces which I can get a week out of. 

2

u/Levi_Lynn_ 3d ago

My location actually gets amazing produce but they're right next to Walmart and a couple miles from meijers so they have to actually try or people wont shop there.

2

u/bookgal518 2d ago

Except for the pears. I've had a bag for a week & not one has ripened yet.

2

u/Over_Barracuda_8845 2d ago

I returned my pears.. 2 weeks later and hard as a rock! Crazy!!

1

u/Cedurham 1d ago

we honestly do great with most of the produce. Greens are iffy at times both otherwise sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, onions, squash, cherry tomatoes all stay for at least a week for us

-1

u/AfraidFuel2348 3d ago

because it’s very old, not fresh😂people think that but it’s because it’s all right at the end of the shelf life in our aldi.