Why Aldi Should Be Your Go-To Store For Basic Spices

Stocking a well-equipped kitchen is no inexpensive feat, and having a good arsenal of herbs and spices in your pantry is a critical — and potentially pricey! — matter. Spices don't necessarily come cheap, meaning that the prospect of saving money in this area is very, very attractive. As usual when it comes to shopping on a budget, enter Aldi. The discount grocer is a fantastic resource for trimming your grocery bill, from Aldi's selection of cheap meat to amazing generic condiments and canned goods.

Aldi's lack of brand-name products is by design: stocking only private labels helps the store pass on savings to shoppers. Turns out that its store-brand spices, sold under the labels Stonemill and Simply Nature, are one heck of a deal. Containers of Aldi spices regularly carry price tags of just $1 to $2 apiece, which is a steep savings from grocery stores that charge triple or even quadruple the amount for practically the same products.

Let's make one thing clear: Aldi doesn't carry every spice or spice blend under the sun. You are unlikely to find anything really unusual or unique on its shelves. Where Aldi's spice selection shines is in the area of basic spices that make the everyday rotation, like cayenne, cinnamon, turmeric, and oregano. A quick peek at its spice product page on the Aldi website even shows some essential spice blends, like lemon-pepper, Italian herbs, and steak seasoning. During the winter months, you'll often see your local Aldi carry seasonal baking favorites as well, like pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, and allspice.

Are Aldi spices as good as the high-dollar brand name versions sitting on the shelf? According to Reddit, the answer is a resounding "yes." Commenters there raved about red pepper flakes with real heat, tasty everything bagel seasoning, and a great selection of summer grilling blends. A theory floated about Aldi's spice section was that, because the inventory was turned over so quickly by high traffic, the products were always very fresh compared to more expensive stuff sitting on grocery shelves and turning stale. So feel good about saving a few dollars on spices at Aldi. And, in the case of spice cabinet contents that are past their best, you should learn what it means to bloom spices, as this simple technique revives flavors and enhances your cooking tremendously.