This $9.99 ALDI Find Pays for Itself—It’s Life Changing

I'm a meal planner who also weaves a reasonable amount of meal prep into my weekly routine. But even with a solid plan and the best intentions, life can be unpredictable, and I often have to pivot. Inevitably, I end up with a sad, slimy bag of cucumbers on my hands, making me feel like I'm throwing money directly into the compost bin every time.

I finally gave in and bought the Crofton Produce Container from ALDI. After just a few days, this $9.99 miracle worker is paying for itself. 

The Low Down on ALDI's Produce Keeper

When I first came across ALDI's produce keeper, I'd recently read a Food & Wine story about the $30 PrepWorks container and thought it looked very similar. ALDI makes a lot of great copycat products, so I couldn't help but wonder if this might be a dupe of the high-end produce keeper. Either way, I was eager to try it. It wasn't until I opened it up that I understood how it worked.

Like a custom climate control system for my fruits and vegetables, it has adjustable vents that manage humidity and airflow to keep everything from berries to leafy greens perfectly fresh. The three-piece design has a suction-top lid, a deep colander base that prevents moisture buildup, and a vented storage compartment that regulates ethylene gas (a natural ripening hormone that causes premature spoilage), which promises to reduce food waste and save me money. Who knew produce storage could be so high-tech?

While it's not exactly a replica of the fancy $30 container, ALDI's has nearly identical features: adjustable vents, a printed guide telling me exactly how to store different types of produce, and a setup that keeps my fruits and veggies in their happy place. The only difference was that my wallet was much happier with ALDI's price point.

What I Love About ALDI's Produce Keeper

I was first struck by its precision. The instructive "legend" on the top of the container provides guidance on how to store a range of fruits and vegetables, identifying how much moisture and airflow each needs to keep things fresh. 

It's also more versatile than I expected. I'd planned to use it for delicate leafy greens but learned that it also works for berries. Since we go through a lot of fresh berries, I wanted to put this to the test first. Spoiler alert: So far, they're fresher than they would be if they were in their original packaging, which is saying something. (I'm talking to you, raspberries!)

At just $9.99, this produce keeper is already saving a few packages of berries. Will it last forever? I'm not making any promises. But for now, it's my latest kitchen MVP.

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