The $0.79 Aldi Product I Always Have in My Pantry

I’m not sure at what age talking about grocery stores and stellar food deals became an exciting conversation, but I’m there. Whenever I find a cheap product or a grocery item I love, I feel the need to tell everyone I know. It’s like wearing a dress that has pockets—you have to share the little secret. 

By now, the joys of shopping at Aldi shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. For years, I’ve been saying that the German grocer is top-notch for amazing private-label products that measure up to the name-brand counterparts—and keep grocery bills low. 

Typically, here at Allrecipes, we focus on the limited-time Aldi Finds and seasonal products that really knock our socks off. However, I don’t want you to overlook the everyday items either. I know I could write love songs about the Red Bag Chicken and Clancy’s kettle-cooked potato chips, but there are even simpler Aldi products out there that deserve a shoutout too.

Nestled in the humble pantry aisle, you’ll find the one canned good I’m never without: Happy Harvest Canned Mushrooms. 

Why I Love Aldi's Canned Mushrooms

OK, truthfully, I’m never without a lot of Aldi’s canned foods—like the green beans, tomatoes, olives, chickpeas, and black beans—but its canned mushrooms are my dirty little secret. 

Before you judge my canned shrooms, think about how many dishes are better with mushrooms. Then, also consider why you don’t always have them on hand—the fresh ones get slimy, shrivel up, or grow mold pretty quickly. Yes, I prefer fresh mushrooms too (unless I’m making pizzas), but in an emergency, canned mushrooms do the trick.

Aldi’s canned mushrooms come pre-cut in “pieces and stems,” so you can just crack the can and add them to your favorite dish. I personally like using canned mushrooms on homemade pizzas because they stay moist while cooking, unlike fresh mushrooms, which can dry out and char in the oven. Other than that, I’ll pop these mushrooms into most recipes where they're simmered, like pasta sauces and soups, or cooked, like casseroles or stuffed peppers. 

I’m not saying I sauté them and eat them on their own, as they do have a different texture than fresh mushrooms, but any other recipe is fair game. 

A can of mushrooms is only $0.79 at my Aldi store, which is a whole dollar cheaper than the fresh varieties—and they won’t go bad nearly as quickly. So, whether I’m making pizzas or just need to restock my emergency stash, Aldi’s Happy Harvest Canned Mushrooms are getting added to the cart. 

If you’re a mushroom lover and want to start adding the nutrient-dense veggie to more dishes, don’t knock the canned version before you try it.