The $6 Aldi Freezer Find I Buy Whenever I Don’t Feel Like Cooking

Like many people who are the primary cooks in the house, I have a running list of core meal options in my repertoire, like sheet pan dinners, one-pot pastas, and slow cooker chilis. I also keep another list of new dishes I’d like to try because, as good as it is, there are only so many times I can cook the same sheet pan salmon before I need to mix things up.

Lately, I’ve been trying to eat more seafood, and I’ve always been a sushi fan, but I didn’t think I’d go so far as to prepare an almost entirely raw dinner for my family. I was stuck in a “meat and potatoes” mindset — that dinner should be a hot meal with one main and two sides. That was before I discovered Aldi’s Specially Selected Wild Caught Ahi Tuna Steaks. 

My husband and I are loyal Aldi shoppers, and while we regularly load up on budget-friendly staples and seasonal items, the seafood selection isn’t always as varied as we’d like. The flash-frozen tuna steaks — which cost $5.95 for three at my store — are the perfect just-slightly-outside-the-box option I needed for a quick weeknight meal.

The steaks are flash-frozen and each one is individually vacuum-sealed inside the bag. When frozen, they appear lighter pink in color, but once fully thawed they become a deeper pinkish red. They are definitely thinner and a bit smaller than other frozen tuna steaks I’ve purchased, but they’re still a great value. When you remove the vacuum-sealed packaging, the tuna should have no fishy smell to it. (On the rare occasion it does, it may have spoiled while thawing, so bring it back for a refund and a free replacement.) The texture is firm, but slices like butter once thawed. I also like that the fish is wild-caught and MSC-certified.

Because these steaks are frozen, you can buy them during a large grocery haul and keep them in the freezer until closer to prep time, unlike fresh fish, which you should eat within two days of purchase.

These tuna steaks are my very own blank slate. I love to eat them in ahi poke bowls with jalapeños and a spicy sauce, which is especially great on nights when you don’t feel like doing much prep. Swap in whatever veggies you have on hand — edamame, radishes, cucumbers, or carrots are all great options — and top with avocado or whatever you like. 

If you have more time (and creativity) to spare, try your hand at homemade sushi rolls (I love a spicy tuna roll). You can also coat the steaks in seasoning and sear them to top a salad, marinate them and grill them to eat as a main dish with quinoa and grilled veggies, or sear and serve them on a sandwich.

You will need the foresight to take these out of the freezer ahead of time, but they’re a great option when you know you have an especially busy week or evening on the horizon. And at $5.95 for three steaks, you’d be hard-pressed to find a lower price for just about any type of sushi-grade fish.

Find it in stores: Specially Selected Sushi Grade Wild Caught Ahi Tuna Steaks, $5.95 for 3 (4-ounce) steaks

What are some of your favorites in Aldi’s frozen section? Let us know in the comments.