Aldi is in a state of constant change. In recent years, it has expanded its store count, remodeled its existing stores, revamped its food lineup, and increased its offerings. We’ve seen Aldi tweak products across the board, from simple label changes to wholesale product reinventions.
There’s a good chance, however, that you might have missed one little artifact on your local store shelf. Like a time capsule from a bygone era, it sits, waiting for those who need it.
I’m talking about Brookdale Beef Stew.
Brookdale Beef Stew is an Aldi-exclusive private label product. You might be forgiven for not being sure, because Brookdale isn’t an Aldi brand we see much of. In fact, this is the only product with this label that we’ve seen.
It’s been around for a while. I found a prepper board where someone unearthed a can from 2011 and tried it out in 2016. The can he showcased looked awfully similar to the one I currently hold on my end. The nutrition label and Aldi product guarantee are updated, but the main product image and title look about the same.
The stew is a Regular Buy, meaning you can find it in stores all the time. It comes in a 20-ounce can and runs $1.69. It has an expiration date stamped on the bottom: mine indicated about 3 years from the time of purchase.
It can be made on the stove top or in the microwave, pretty much like any other canned soup you’ve had. To cook on the stove top, you empty the stew into a saucepan, then heat to simmering over medium heat, stirring occasionally. To cook in the microwave, you empty the stew into a microwave-safe bowl, then cover loosely and cook on high heat for 3-4 minutes or until hot, stirring after 2 minutes and again before serving.
Before cooking. (Click to enlarge.)
My family tried it out, and most of them thought it was okay. It’s your standard processed food, so it doesn’t replace a homemade stew, but as far as canned stews go it’s not bad.
Like most canned foods, this has a few health flags, chief among them sodium. The entire can contains over 100% of your recommended daily allowance of sodium, and over half of your recommended saturated fat intake. It’s sustenance, but not one you’d want to report to your doctor.
Nutrition information. (Click to enlarge.)
Ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
The Verdict:
Brookdale Beef Stew is a decent canned stew. It’s processed and high in sodium, but if you’re looking for something you can store in your pantry for emergencies — or if you need a hot stew in a hurry — this stew tastes alright.
I’m hooked on aldi brookdale beef stew for my lunches at work. But my local aldi has not had it for months.the store says that they don’t carry it anymore.why?
Can i order it some were else?
Unfortunately, you can’t order Aldi products online. https://www.aldireviewer.com/does-aldi-ship-its-products-online/
Could you please review the brookdale chilli with and without beans
We’ve got a review here: https://www.aldireviewer.com/brookdale-original-chili/
I liked this so much better than Dinty Moore’s. For some reason, DM’s always had a bland, nondescript flavor followed by. . . can. Nothing like the taste of can after every spoonful of nothing. So, for a long time, I never tried Aldi’s stew until someone was telling me about it. I’ve tried it numerous times and now like it quite a bit. But just as so many things that appear at Aldi’s and then vanish, I’ve not seen this in probably close to a year.
As much as I love Aldi’s, I am very annoyed that no matter how seemingly popular and item is, you just cannot count on it being around.
Many times I just don’t bother trying anything new for that very reason. Because each time I fall in love with one of their products, it just up and vanishes with no word of warning.
They had authentic crumpets for a few months, and they couldn’t keep them on the shelves as they were so popular. Gone and never came back.
They had amazing Italian dried Calabrian Sausage –– Amazing! Gone, having only been able to grab one! Never came back.
They had incredible Fig preserves –– evaporated within less than two months, no one even knew it existed.
These are all under their store brand, usually Special Select. But they may as well have been anomalies that slipped through a tear in the space-time continuum from some alternate reality Aldi’s. For as suddenly as they appeared was as suddenly they disappeared.
I have made up my mind that it isn’t worth trying something new and getting hooked only to be left empty-handed the next week. If it was something that happened on rare occasions, it wouldn’t be so bad, but it’s a never ending strip-tease act where they wave the goodies in your face, but slap your hand away should you try and touch. And if you get too lucky, they send the bouncer over to tell you the limit is four touches!
You have to leave some for the other customers, you know. . .
It has gotten to the point where I basically shop the staples at Aldi’s. Because it is very unlikely that they will stop carrying milk, eggs, butter, flour, or sugar. . . Although I shouldn’t have said that as I may have jinxed us all!
I’m in total agreement!!
Iv been trying and trying to get Brookdale beef stew!!!
I’ll just assume it’s hopeless and shop elsewhere!
I live in the lynchburg va 24502 area!!
i went to the aldi store to buy some brookdale beef stew they did not have any in the marshfield. wisc store why not?