5 Aldi Items We Recommend Skipping, According to Our Editors

If you've ever browsed Dinogo, you'll know just how much we adore Aldi. And it's not just us—Aldi is the fastest-growing grocery chain in the U.S. and has built a loyal following across the nation.

The store offers excellent private label items at unbeatable prices, something its competitors struggle to match. Plus, they’re constantly adding new products to the shelves. But even as devoted Aldi fans, we have to admit there are a few items we just can't get behind.

We surveyed our Aldi-enthusiast Dinogo editors and scoured Reddit to gather insights from Aldi shoppers, uncovering the top five products they never buy from the German retailer.

1. Condiments & Salad Dressings

There are two main reasons people avoid Aldi’s condiments and salad dressings. First, many have strong brand loyalty to their favorite products and don’t want to switch. Second, some of Aldi’s options simply aren’t up to par.

As a Pittsburgh native, I’m loyal to Heinz ketchup—there’s no substitute for it. That’s why you won’t catch me buying Burman’s Ketchup. It’s not necessarily bad, but Heinz is my go-to, and I know it won’t disappoint. Other condiments that Reddit users say they’d rather splurge on name brands for include Miracle Whip, Jif Peanut Butter, and Vlasic Pickles.

The good news is Aldi also stocks a variety of well-known brand-name condiments alongside their private-label options. So, if you're committed to a specific brand, you can still find it on the shelves.

When it comes to salad dressings, both our editors and Reddit users generally recommend skipping them. While some say all the options fall short, others argue that the glass-bottle and ‘restaurant-style’ dressings are surprisingly good. It really seems to come down to personal taste.

2. Some Produce

One thing most Aldi shoppers can agree on is that the produce can be a bit unpredictable. One trip, you might score the juiciest blueberries and the ripest bananas, but the next, you could be stuck with bruised apples and almost-rotting strawberries.

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about this except carefully inspect your produce before adding it to your cart. The good news is Aldi’s Twice as Nice Guarantee lets you return any unsatisfactory items for a full refund and replacement. So if you do end up with subpar produce, you can always take it back.

Another common gripe among Aldi shoppers is that a lot of produce is sold in bulk. Unlike many other stores that let you buy individual items, Aldi often sells produce like potatoes, onions, and garlic in large multi-pound bags. So, if you only need one pound of potatoes, you'll have to buy five—better start planning some extra potato dishes.

3. Lunch Meat

There’s nothing inherently wrong with Aldi’s deli meats. In fact, Aldi is a great place to snag affordable packs of lunch meat.

However, since Aldi’s store setup is fairly no-frills, it doesn’t have a traditional deli counter. While they offer both private-label lunch meats and pre-sliced deli cuts from their in-house brand, there’s no one around to freshly slice your meat for you.

If you were hoping to ask a staff member to slice your meat a certain way or customize your order, Aldi may not be the right choice for you.

4. Baked Cheese Crackers

Aldi’s snack aisle is usually a big hit. Chips, trail mixes, and cookies are top choices for many Aldi shoppers. However, a surprising number of Reddit users have pointed out that Aldi’s Baked Cheese Crackers (its private-label alternative to Cheez-Its) don’t quite measure up.

“I tried their version of the toasted Cheez-Its recently, hoping to save a little money. I have to agree, they don’t come close to the name brand,” shared Reddit user AreTeeMiss.

The good news is that Aldi usually carries the real Cheez-Its right next to their own brand. If you're willing to pay a bit more, it might be worth it. Or, you can opt for Aldi’s Penguin Baked Cheddar Snack Crackers, which are similar to Goldfish and are a crowd favorite.

5. Fish Sticks

Like its deli section, Aldi doesn’t have a fresh seafood counter. Despite this, they offer a wide variety of fresh and frozen seafood, which most customers love. While fresh salmon and frozen beer-battered cod are some of our editors’ top picks, one editor mentioned they wouldn’t be buying Aldi’s fish sticks again.

“If I had to pick one product that disappointed me, it would be the fish sticks,” they said. “They were okay, but not great. I usually buy 365 fish sticks from Whole Foods, which are also made with pollock, but the Aldi version was much smaller and lacked the ‘meaty’ texture I’m used to.”

If you're after a breaded fish option, stick with Aldi’s Beer-Battered Cod Filets or Beer-Battered Fish Filets. And if your kids insist on fish sticks, just chop the fillets into smaller pieces—they’ll never know the difference!