Aldi anything to avoid?

[SweetPeaPods]

DH and I are having to make serious cut backs. One area we (or I) spend too much is on food shopping. So I’m going to start meal planning, taking a list, and start using Aldi and Lidl more. I’ve popped in to the local ones before but more for 1 or 2 things rather than a weekly shop. So hit me with your items to avoid please or anything I should really try. Anything that is the same as supermarkets or branded but repackaged would be much appreciated too! TIA

Oh yeah the bin bags are awful

We had the end of a bottle of real Pimms left, and did a blind taste test against Aldi Austins. 2/3 of us liked the Aldi version better, and the other thought both as good as each other. I personally dislike the ketchup, and the cheaper teabags, but nothing g else I don't buy!

Aldis "aussie" dupe shampoo and conditioner is great.
They do a spinach and ricotta frozen pizza that id choose over a takeaway pizza 😍 its amazing.
The mini magnums are immense too. Oh and they do some thai fishcakes which are a fave. And the big pots of flavoured yoghurt.
I dont like the crumpets or the crisps but get most of my shop in aldi!

Aldi cheese puffs taste and look like Wotsits used to before they were messed about with, but don't go for the variety pack because their versions of Frazzles and Monster Munch are beyond awful. Their Pringles (stackers) are good. We've been buying their strawberry conserve for years now, it is IMO the nicest jam in the world. Don't buy the cheapest loo roll as it's proper finger-through-paper stuff, but the next level up is fine.

My advice is just try everything you would normally buy and make your own mind up. I love Aldi and actually find the veg to last ages. The only things I don’t buy from Aldi is the few things they don’t stock and I don’t buy much meat as I prefer my local butcher to any supermarket anyway but any meat I have bought has been fine. If you have little ones the mamia nappies and wipes are great and so cheap. The cheese is fab and so cheap

The only things i wont get are. Steak - tastes like liver (shudder)
Mayo, rustlers type burgers (found a bone in one ,vom) and their tinned tuna (full of bones)
Good side is their aloe vera toilet roll is far superior to all expensive brands and so long as you dont keep fruit and veg for more than 3 days its great value. I do 2 small shops a week and cook it up pretty much on the day of purchase.
Its great value if you use it wisely.

Dh and I bought 3 round planters yesterday, really posh looking. He was shocked I hadn’t told him about them but I’m so used to him slagging Aldi I never said a word.

I use the cleaning stuff a lot. Huge packs of Shea loo rolls very cheap.

I've stopped at Aldi for about 12 years now. All you're going to get on this thread is a load of different opinions. People like or dislike things wherever they've bought them. Do a big shop and buy what you'd normally buy. See if you like what you've bought. If you do, buy it again. If you don't, don't buy it again.

Oh and the chickpea smoky puffs are amazing. And lentil curls and pea snacks. A pp said they were awful though-differing opinions.

Their mayonnaise is horrendous

Good stuff
All the fruit and veg has always been brilliant
All of the fake biscuits/chocolatey bits
Laundry stuff
Toilet paper
Frozen bits for quick teas: nuggets, fish fingers, pizzas, chips all fine
Yogurts
Soups
Spices
Bread (we get the mid priced one)

The meat is abit mixed...
so for example last week I got a pack of chicken breasts and a pack of mince. The chicken breasts we had first and they were completely fine, no different to anywhere else. The mince however... it was dated the 6th but by the 4th was completely brown and I definitely wouldn't have gone anywhere near it!
If you get mince I'd eat it on the day you get it.

Fish has always been ok for us too.

I'd avoid the ketchup/sauces in general they taste abit 'fake'
Salad dressings are good though.

The majority of stuff is brilliant! It took us about 2 big shops before we found what we liked and didn't like but now we save so much money. I generally do one 'big' shop and then just one smaller mid week Asda shop for top ups or bits I've missed

Forgot to ass, the own brand crumpets are not good! Taste like rubber

Not that much to be honest their own fabric conditioner is a bit crap.
To be honest though I think the quality really varies from store to store our local one is fab the meat and fruit and veg are excellent.
I do pretty much a full shop there there are only a few bits I need for slimming world that I buy elsewhere and sausages as dd2 will only eat Richmond's thin ones - not envy.

With Aldi and Lidl you need to go in with an open mind and just try everything!!!
Everyone on here will have a different opinion - for everyone who likes something there will be someone else who hates it!!!

You need to go and try things from Aldi OP. What I like or dislike from Aldi you or your family may either love or loathe it will depend on your tastes.

I found Almat washing powder did not dissolve properly and left white residue on clothes. Did not like Aldi fabric conditioner either. Tomato ketchup, tin soups, cornflakes, toilet roll, diet cola, monster munch type crisps, meat crisps, fish fingers and
bin bags all rubbish. Didn't like their version of lurpack butter or custard and creamy rice pudding.

The Lacuaea skin care is great and used to use clarins and clinique. DH loves their shower gel, deo and body spray, their tampons are good, as is their nappies, baby wipes and baby bubble bath. Their kids bubble bath is good and a fraction of the price of sanex. I like their lacura deo, just as good as branded, their mouth wash is fine and so is their frizz ease shampoo. Washing up liquid and dishwasher tablets v good

Aldi's wine and Moser Roth chocolate very nice, their single origin coffee is lovely, greek yoghurt is fine, the chocolate pots of joy are nice, their activia type yoghurt is nice, chilled non concentrate juices are good and their bloomer bread is wonderful. Cheese and cold meats are good too.

Agree that it's a bit of a matter of taste. I wasn't keen on their peppermint tea and their dairy Lea is as spreadable as glue. Beans etc are fine, pleasantly surprised.

As PP say it’s really a matter of try it out and see what you think. I haven’t had any problems with fresh fruit and veg or meat at either of our local Aldis.

Our regular purchases:
Bacon - the packet actually open on the tab unlike ASDA bacon and there is absolutely no difference in quality.
Their basic ground coffee and coffee beans (Mellow Moods and French Roast) are fab
I love their bread/baked stuff- you must try the Bloomer bread, either the white or the tiger loaf
Brioche sliced loaf is amazing, I find the tear and share one a bit too rich
Eggs and baking stuff
Almat liqui-tabs for clothes and the dishwasher solid tablets - last ages and I wouldn’t buy those anywhere else now
Cheese and ham selection is great - I like the Specially selected ham range
Tortilla chips and dips - so cheap and the salsa dip is better than Doritos brand