Even the most loyal Aldi fans have a few things on their list that they just don't buy from
the German discount grocery chain. Here are some of the Aldi items that have received
less than glowing reviews from shoppers, so try them at your own risk.
When it comes to finding the best deal on produce, Aldi is at the top of the list. According
to the website Kitchn, Aldi's produce often outperforms other major retail chains such
as Costco and Trader Joe's on price, making it a whole lot easier for your family to eat
healthy. Living Well Spending Less adds that Aldi often gives customers deals on tropical
fruits such as pineapple and mango, which generally tend to be more expensive.
But Aldi's produce gets mixed reviews, and there are enough bad ones out there to make
you think twice before you load up your shopping cart with fresh fruits and vegetables. Some
shoppers claim that Aldi's produce has a tendency to be overripe in the store, which basically
guarantees that your items won't have a very long life inside of your fridge once you get
them home. Penny Hoarder described Aldi's produce as scary looking and described the
store’s selection as past its prime and surrounded by fruit flies. Gross.
And if that alone doesn’t deter you, one reviewer complained on the Consumer Affairs
website of seeing mold on the produce in the store.
Aldi has a selection of store brand cereals that are comparable to some of the most popular
name brands on the market. But for some reviewers, Millville, Aldi's version of name brand cereal
knockoffs, doesn’t come close to the real thing on taste. The Money Saving Mom thinks
the flavor of Millville's version of Cheerios is substandard to the name brand. Commenters
on Frugal Girl agree, adding that the Aldi version of Cheerios tend to be, quote, "hard
and stuck together."
If the taste of your cereal isn’t one of your main concerns, you may be tempted to
switch to the Aldi brand of cereals to save money on your grocery bill, especially since
Millville cereals tend to be cheaper than their name brand counterparts.
Loyal soda drinkers can easily identify the flavors of their favorite drinks, but sometimes,
they’re willing to sacrifice on that taste if it means saving a few bucks. So it should
come as no surprise that many of Aldi's Summit sodas have a hard time stacking up to their
fellow bubbly brands.
According to Kiplinger, Aldi's store brand sodas don't taste great when compared to most
of the mainstream Coke and Pepsi products. They add that you can often find better deals
on the name-brand soda varieties at other grocery chains.
The Aldi Reviewer doesn't mind swapping out their Sprite and A & W Root Beer for the Aldi
brand counterparts. But they draw the line at Aldi's Summit Cola, which doesn't have
much flavor compared to Coke and Pepsi. And if that wasn't bad enough, a serving of Summit
Cola has at least 10 more calories than its name brand competition.
A frozen pizza can be a quick and easy option for dinner if you’re short on time or when
you can't be bothered with chopping or simmering anything. But if you've ever had a bad frozen
pizza, you know that in order to make sure dinner isn't a complete fail, it's important
to choose the right brand, and people have a lot to say.
"Shut up, Leonard. I found your YouTube page.
What’s the point of reviewing frozen pizza?”
“You’re talking about it.”
“Oh… that is true."
Several reviewers have said that Aldi's Mama Cozzi frozen pizzas are lacking in the flavor
department, which may be worth overlooking when you're getting a good deal. But that
argument doesn't hold up when you consider that at some Aldi locations around the country,
Mama Cozzi pizzas can actually be more expensive than other well-known brands.
The folks at Cheat Sheet not only agree that Mama Cozzi frozen pizzas have little flavor,
but they also go on to add that the brand definitely skimps on the toppings. Let's face
it, a pizza is nothing without the toppings. And if you're going to resort to eating a
frozen pizza, the last thing in the world you want is a naked crust.
Shopping for paper products seems like an easy task, but it can also be tricky. Finding
that sweet spot where quality and affordability meet is tough. You don't want to blow your
entire grocery budget on napkins and toilet paper. But having to use a whole roll of paper
towels to clean up a juice spill isn't good for the environment or your wallet.
Aldi offers shoppers an alternative to more expensive name brand paper goods with their
own line of products. But many shoppers who have tried them out don't think the products
stack up to the competition. Frugally Blonde pointed out that Aldi's paper products tend
to be thin and scratchy. The folks at PureWow weighed in on the quality of the toilet paper,
describing it as thin and not very absorbent.
If you're looking to save money without having to sacrifice on the quality of your paper
products, you're better off shopping sales or stocking up at your favorite warehouse
club, as Cheat Sheet suggests.
If you've already cut back on your trips to Starbucks by brewing your own coffee at home
and are still looking for ways to save a few dollars, you may have considered swapping
your name brand beans for one of Aldi's store brands. Some customers actually swear by the
brand’s selection of coffee pods.
“And it’s fair trade coffee, I mean this is not just… you know, some… it’s not
a brand you’ve ever heard of, it’s really good. I’ve tried it and it was really good!”
But before you ditch your favorite coffee for good, you should know that some shoppers
believe that Aldi's coffees don't stack up against their name brand alternatives. Coffee
Coffee Coffee reviewed all of Aldi's coffee brands, and they didn't have too many nice
things to say about the flavor of any of 11 varieties they tried. They described Aldi's
Daily Basics brand of coffee as cardboard and dry. They noted that the Barissimo Fair
Trade Dark gave them a dry mouth feeling.
Living Well Spending Less notes that true coffee lovers would be better off spending
a little more money on name brand beans.
When you're short on time and money, you need a reliable one stop shop for your groceries
and toiletry needs that won't blow your budget. Aldi does have a selection of medicine cabinet
staples such as toothpaste and deodorant. But an overwhelming majority of reviewers
believe that it is possible to find a better deal on your toiletry products at your local
drug store or big box chain.
Julie at Frugally Blonde writes that Aldi's products just don't cut it. She says she prefers
to shop sales and use coupons at drug stores for her beauty products. Many reviewers believe
Aldi's toiletry products don't match up on price, either. BestLife points out that Aldi
rarely puts any of the items on sale. And since Aldi doesn't accept coupons, it's possible
to get a better deal on the very same name brand product when you have the opportunity.
A good package of cookie dough can be a huge convenience when you find out that you've
been chosen for the job of making treats for your kid's class the night before the bake
sale. But according to several product reviews, if you don't have time to totally DIY, Aldi
isn't the best place to shop for your baking needs. Living Well Spending Less noted that
the bad flavor of Aldi's refrigerated cookie dough isn't worth the cost or the calories,
especially when you can nab it for cheaper at other grocery stores with sales and coupons.
And according to Wise Bread, the dough burned easily when you bake it and tasted like it
was loaded with additives.
Like many of their products, Aldi's dishwashing and cleaning products are often priced lower
than most of their name brand competition. And reviewers are satisfied with the powder
dishwasher pods and dishwashing liquid for the most part. But unfortunately, they don't
have the same love for Aldi’s Radiance detergent in gel form. Many users claim that the gel
doesn't actually clean your dishes… which, of course, is the whole point.
Aldi's Radiance Automatic Dishwashing Gel often leaves smudging and food residue on
dishes after several washing cycles, according to Aldi Reviewer. Reddit users agree. Although
they don't mind the dishwasher pods, the general consensus on the site is that Aldi's dishwasher
gel just doesn't get the job done.
You may save money on the bottle, but you'll likely end up using it a lot faster because
you'll have to run your dishwasher more than once to get your dishes completely clean.
When you're stocking up on snacks for your work lunch, you may have considered swapping
out your Lay's and Doritos for a less expensive Aldi alternative. After all, saving money
on snacks leaves more money in your budget for more important things in your life.
“Okay now Chanel. You're in desperate need of Chanel.
Darling, shall we?
We have to that’s going to get to the Beauty Dept and God knows how long THAT's going to take."
You may think you're doing a good thing for your wallet, but beware. Many of Aldi's store
brand potato chips are not the best game day substitution. According to Cheat Sheet, those
snackers who are die-hard fans of the name brand varieties won't enjoy the taste of Aldi's
store brand version, with reviews calling Aldi's chips burnt and salty.
You may not be loyal to any particular brand of sandwich bags, but quality can make all
of the difference when it comes to keeping your sandwiches, snacks, and other small items
secure while you travel. And according to several product reviews, Aldi's Boulder brand
of zip top sandwich bags aren't exactly up to the challenge.
According to Brandefy, the sandwich bags are among the worst of the stores household products.
They describe Aldi's Boulder sandwich bags as being harder to close than Ziploc's version
— a product flaw that could lead to an unwanted mess if your bag is not sealed properly. Amazon
reviews have confirmed how hard the bags are to close and how their flimsiness can lead
to pesky leaks.
Frugally Blonde complains that the Boulder brand of sandwich bags have a weird plastic
smell that makes her wary of putting any of her food inside. She writes that it's possible
to find better deals on sandwich bags at other grocery chains.
Choosing the right litter is pretty important. And although cat owners may be looking for
ways to save money on this important pet supply, they know that when it comes to scooping their
cat's poop, they absolutely can't afford to skimp on quality.
Aldi jumped into the kitty litter game with various products, including their exclusive
brand, Fine Feline. Aldi has since swapped out Fine Feline for the Heart to Tail brand,
but it seems that the grocery chain has missed the mark again. Independent product review
site Aldi Reviewer doesn't think the Heart to Tail scoopable cat litter stands up to
its name brand equivalents. Their reviewer complains of the dust and the smell of the
litter. They add that the Heart to Tail litter doesn't clump the way it should, just like
the Fine Feline brand did.
Heart to Tail is a cheaper alternative if you’re looking to save a few bucks. But
if you’re in a need of a quality product for your kitty, don’t bother with Heart
to Tail. You’ll save yourself a cleaning headache by sticking with your favorite name
brand cat litter.
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