Find out how much ALDI corned beef costs and how to make a whole tasty St. Patricks Day meal around it.
We are on the verge of another St. Patricks Day. And that means lots of us Americans are going to be eating corned beef. The Irish not as much.
Want to save some money on the meal this year? Not sure if ALDI is a good choice? We’ll show you how to use items from ALDI to make a delicious March 17th feast. Jump to:
As a popular St. Patrick’s Day ingredient and hearty classic corned beef brisket sees a surge in demand around early March. Luckily ALDI makes it easy to get high-quality certified Angus corned beef for an affordable price.
Under their Cattlemen’s Ranch brand, ALDI offers both flat cut and point cut brisket options. If you’re wondering exactly how much corned beef costs at ALDI, this guide will breakdown the typical pricing so you can plan that perfect Irish feast.
ALDI Corned Beef Price Overview
At ALDI, corned beef brisket pricing tends to range from $299 per pound up to $499 per pound depending on cut, size, and time of year. Special holiday sales may also discount prices temporarily.
Their corned beef brisket comes pre-brined and cured so it’s ready to cook. The price per pound makes it very budget-friendly compared to other grocery chains.
Here are the typical corned beef prices seen at ALDI:
- Small Flat Cut (2.5-4 lbs): $2.99/lb
- Family Size Flat Cut (4-6 lbs): $3.49/lb
- Point Cut: $3.49-$3.99/lb
- Jumbo Flat Cut (6-8 lbs): $4.99/lb
So you can find a smaller 2.5 pound flat cut brisket for under $10 total. Or a large 8 pound jumbo brisket for around $40. Brisket packets are also sold with spices included.
Price Comparison of Corned Beef at Other Stores
To highlight the savings at ALDI, here’s a comparison of corned beef brisket pricing at other popular grocery chains:
- Kroger – $5.99 to $6.99 per pound
- Safeway – $4.49 to $5.99 per pound
- Food Lion – $5.99 to $6.99 per pound
- Walmart – $3.98 to $4.98 per pound
- Costco – $3.99 to $4.99 per pound
For the budget-minded shopper, ALDI comes in with the best deals across the board for corn beef brisket. The quality also rivals the premium brands but at a lower cost.
What Impacts the Price of Corned Beef at ALDI
Like any food product, a few key factors influence the pricing on corned beef brisket at ALDI:
Raw Material Costs: The market price of beef cattle and demand for brisket cuts factor into the base cost ALDI pays. Increased costs get passed onto consumers.
Processing: Pre-brining, curing, and trimming add processing costs to make the raw brisket into corned beef. This accounts for some of the price premium over fresh beef.
Weight and Cut Style: Larger briskets and the preferred flat cut style command higher prices per pound than smaller or point cuts. More meat equals more cost.
Holiday Demand: Prices tend to jump around St. Patrick’s Day when demand for corned beef skyrockets. Specials still keep ALDI prices low.
Seasonality: Late winter and early spring see the most brisket demand. Prices may dip slightly during other cooler months.
Understanding these key pricing factors help explain the difference between regular fresh beef versus processed corned beef. In the end, ALDI leverages their operating model to keep quality corned beef brisket affordable year round.
How Much Corned Beef to Buy from ALDI
When it comes to determining how much corned beef to purchase from ALDI, here are some quick guidelines for portion planning:
- For a single cook: Opt for a 2.5 to 3 pound flat cut brisket
- For a small family meal: Choose a 4 to 5 pound brisket
- For a party or large gathering: Buy a 6 to 8 pound jumbo brisket
Plan for about 0.5 pound of raw corned beef per adult serving. Leftover cooked corned beef also makes excellent sandwiches and hash dishes.
Buying too much is better than not having enough corned beef to go around! Extras can be frozen in air-tight packaging for up to 4 months.
Pro Tips to Save Money on ALDI Corned Beef
Use these pro tips to keep costs down when buying corned beef brisket for your meal:
- Check weekly ads for holiday sales and specials to stock up
- Buy ahead of the St. Patrick’s Day rush and freeze extra
- Opt for point cut brisket when feeding a smaller crowd
- Purchase an uncut, boneless roast for maximum value
- Always check unit prices and bulk options for better deals
With some planning and smart shopping, you can enjoy flavorful corned beef brisket without overspending. Follow this guide to get the most brisket for your buck at ALDI. Sláinte!
Frequently Asked Questions About ALDI Corned Beef
Here are answers to some common questions about buying corned beef brisket from ALDI:
Is ALDI corned beef cooked or raw?
ALDI sells raw uncooked corned beef briskets that are brined and cured, but not yet cooked. They require cooking before eating.
What are the different corned beef cuts at ALDI?
ALDI sells both point cut and flat cut brisket. Flat cut is leaner and the most popular style. Point cut has more marbling.
How long does ALDI corned beef last?
Raw corned beef lasts for 7-10 days refrigerated. It can also be frozen for up to 4 months in freezer bags or wrapped in foil.
Does ALDI sell pre-cooked corned beef?
No, ALDI currently only sells raw uncooked brisket. But their high quality brisket is easily cooked at home in a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or oven roasted.
What size corned beef brisket should I get at ALDI?
Choose a 2.5-3 pound brisket to feed 3-4 people, a 4-5 pound brisket for 6-8 people, and a 6-8 pound jumbo brisket for large gatherings. Estimate 0.5 pound per serving.
Enjoy Big Corned Beef Flavor for Less
When it comes to juicy, well-marbled corned beef brisket for an amazing price, ALDI can’t be beat. Their Cattlemen’s Ranch brand exceeds the quality of many premium corned beef products while keeping costs low.
Use this complete guide to save money on top-notch brisket for St. Patrick’s Day or anytime you get a craving. ALDI makes enjoying classic corned beef affordable and easy. Sláinte friends!
How to Cook
There are several methods to cooking corned beef. One I dont recommend is just boiling it. Some say this is the “proper” way to do it, but I don’t think it’s the best. When you boil it, some of the extra salt from the pickling process escapes into the water. However, unless you season the water a lot with spices, a lot of the flavor also goes away.
Here are my 2 favorite methods
My goal for cooking corned beef is for it to come out tender yet still sliceable. I dont want it to fall apart like pulled pork.
What is best to serve alongside corned beef? Cabbage is always a go-to. Its cheap. Just dont cook it very long. It just needs a couple minutes in boiling water. Really, thats all. Or you can just sauté the cabbage in some fat (bacon fat is so good!). I saw cabbage going for 49 cents a pound at the store I was at.
Mashed potatoes are a must for our family. Red potatoes are often on sale for St. Patricks Day. ALDI was no exception. They had them for $2. 99 for a 3 pound bag. Dont forget the butter and the milk, I like using buttermilk.
You can do what the Irish do and mix your cabbage into your mashed potatoes. This is called Colcannon. Shredded Brussels sprouts or kale also work for this.
Carrots are another good choice for serving with corned beef. Go with whole carrots that have more flavor than the baby carrots. You can get a 2 pound bag for $1. 49. Then cook them in a lot of butter!.
RELATED – What to Serve with Corned Beef
My family loves having a cheese course with our St. Patricks Day feast. ALDI has several Irish cheddars and other styles of cheese to try. Here is what I found.
Emporium Selection Aged Irish Waxed Cheddar Round | $3.99 for 5.3oz |
Emporium Selection Irish Waxed Cheddar with Irish Whiskey | $3.99 for 5.3oz |
Emporium Selection Irish Waxed Cheddar with Irish Beer | $3.99 for 5.3oz |
Emporium Selection Cheddar Cheese with Porter Ale | $3.99 for 7oz |
Emporium Selection Pesto Gouda | $3.99 for 6.5oz |
Emporium Selection Sage Derby | $3.99 for 7oz |
Emporium Selection Mild Irish Cheddar | $3.79 for 7oz |
Emporium Selection Sharp Irish Cheddar | $3.79 for 7oz |
Emporium Selection Vintage Irish Cheddar | $3.79 for 7oz |
The last 3 cheddars on the list they have in stock year round. The other ones are specials for the St. Patricks Day holiday. If you got all the waxed cheese you would have all the colors of the Irish flag.
RELATED – My Guide to Irish Cheese
Homemade soda bread is a must for my family for St. Patricks Day. And its super easy and cheap to make. Here are the ingredients you will need, all of which your ALDI should have in stock.
- 4 cups flour
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 4 tbsp butter
- ¾ cup buttermilk (some of it can go in the mashed potatoes)
- 1 large egg
Since this bread doesn’t use yeast, you don’t have to wait for it to rise. Just make the dough and bake it.
RELATED – Irish Soda Bread Recipe (Can Be Made with Wheat Flour or Gluten Free)
Corned Beef Prices
Got to start with the corned beef first. Here are the prices I found at an ALDI store in March 2023 in Covington, Louisiana.
Cattlemens Ranch USDA Choice Flat Cut Corned Beef Brisket | $3.99/lb |
Cattlemens Ranch USDA Choice Point Cut Corned Beef Brisket | $2.99/lb |
Those are fabulous prices. Better than what I am seeing in many other grocery stores. The price tags say that it was originally $5. 79, but these are marked as an ALDI Savers deal. Likely when the corned beef first showed up this season it was at the higher price. Then went down the week before Thanksgiving. I saw this with turkey and ham prices right before Thanksgiving and Christmas respectively.
Don’t forget that you can get the point cut for $1 less per pound if you want to save money. Although I think you are paying for more fat and less actual useable meat. I got the flat cut.