I tried 18 of Aldi's fan-favorite foods this year, and I'd buy nearly all of of them again

I'm not a big potato-chip fan because I don't love how they stick to my teeth, and it seems they're always way too salty or bland.

But Clancy's kettle chips, which took the No. 1 spot in the "what a deal" category, were surprisingly delicious. For this taste test, I grabbed the original flavor.

The texture was excellent, as the chips were extremely light and crisp with a good crunch in every bite.

The flavor of the original chips was good, though I thought some bites were perfectly salted and others were a little bland. Still, I'd buy these again to add to a sandwich or pair with dip.

Clancy's kettle chips also come in jalapeño and mesquite-barbecue flavors. As a big jalapeño fan, I plan to head back to Aldi to grab them.

I got an 8-ounce bag of Clancy's original kettle chips for about $2.

The Happy Farms string cheese won the No. 1 spot in the "snacks for everyone" category, and I could quickly see why.

I hadn't eaten string cheese in a long time, partly because I think it can be expensive for what it is. However, I was eager to try an award-winning string-cheese version.

The string cheese was good, not overly salty or bland, and easy to peel. I think they'd make for a quick, convenient addition to a lunch box.

If I get that nostalgic craving for string cheese, I'd definitely buy the version from Aldi.

The Happy Farms mozzarella string cheese was only $2.80 for 12 sticks. I've seen similar 12-packs of string cheese for $4 to $6.50 at other grocery stores so I was also impressed with Aldi's price.

According to Aldi, cottage cheese sales rose 14% amid viral recipes on social-media channels like TikTok.

Though I'm not particularly interested in trying ice cream or cookie dough made with cottage cheese, I like the snack on its own and was excited to try Aldi's affordable version.

I don't know that I'd buy the Friendly Farms cottage cheese again. I like small-curd cottage cheese, but despite the label, this version had larger curds than I expected.

I thought it was also kind of bland and pretty watery, even after thoroughly stirring it up.

A 24-ounce tub of the Friendly Farms cottage cheese was only $2.50.

Dairy swept many categories in this year's Fan Favorites Awards, and the Friendly Farms low-sugar Greek yogurt was a newcomer, winning "rookie of the year."

I've previously enjoyed some of the other yogurt products from Aldi, so I was looking forward to trying the low-sugar Greek yogurt.

This product, which has only 2 grams of sugar per serving, comes in plain and vanilla flavors. I opted for the vanilla version.

Like many low-sugar products, the yogurt swapped sugar for steviol glycosides, or the main chemical compound in Stevia. The thick, creamy texture was nice but I didn't like the Stevia flavor, which was extremely prominent to me.

I think the Friendly Farms Greek yogurt is a great option for people who may need low-sugar options, as the Stevia flavor can easily be tamed by mixing in some fresh fruit or nuts. But for me, I'll stick to Aldi's other yogurt options made with regular sugar.

A 32-ounce tub of Friendly Farms Greek yogurt was $5.10.

First of all, the real appeal of the Simply Nature avocado oil is the price.

The 17-ounce bottle of pure avocado oil cost me only $6.80, whereas similar products at a different grocery store ranged from $10 to $12.

I had the Simply Nature avocado oil by itself just to get an idea of the flavor, and I thought it tasted like a neutral oil. In terms of flavor, there was nothing exciting.

But I loved the price and, weirdly enough, the design of the bottle.

I've tried many different cooking oils and found that a lot of them don't have a lip to catch oil drips. But after pouring some of the Simply Nature avocado oil into a small dish, I realized that the lip around the mouth of the bottle caught drips and redirected them back into the container. It's a small detail, but it made using this oil really convenient and mess-free.

I found five different Specially Selected vinaigrettes in house, Greek, raspberry, garlic, and three-cheese flavors.

The house seemed the most versatile, so I opted for that flavor. Its label describes the vinaigrette as having whole garlic cloves, cider vinegar, and "special spices."

To be honest, the dressing didn't look all that appealing in the bottle because there was a cloudy layer in the center. But once I shook the dressing and opened the bottle, the smell enticed me.

I tried the dressing on its own and over a little bit of spinach and it was delicious both ways. The garlic and herbs came through, and I was spot-on about its versatility. I plan to use the vinaigrette as a bread dip and, of course, a salad dressing, but I also think it would be good for marinating tofu or drizzling over pasta or pizza.

A 12-ounce bottle cost me $2.70.

This year's top produce pick was a returning winner, avocados. At only $0.90 apiece, I could see why the avocados won the "cream of the crop" category.

When I shopped for this fan favorite, I was a little worried because a few of them had soft spots, even when the rest of the avocado was clearly not ripe yet.

Eventually, I found a couple of avocados, one that felt ripe and one that was a little greener, to test out at home.

I cut the ripe one open when I got home and was so happy to find a perfectly green, ripe interior and a small pit. The second avocado ripened the next day and was similar.

Though I don't normally eat plain avocado, I wanted to try it on its own. I sprinkled some sea salt on top of half of the avocado, and it was delicious.

The interior was soft but still firm enough to pull out small chunks to eat and there were no brown spots at all. It was just about as perfect as an avocado could get.

The Emporium Selection fresh mozzarella, which won in the "choose your cheese" category, ended up being one of my favorite products.

The cheese comes in ball or log form and I opted for the latter option for one key reason: It's so convenient.

I tasted a slice on its own, and it was what I expected. It had a fresh, creamy mozzarella flavor with a slightly chewy but smooth texture.

Since it's presliced, I can quickly throw some into a bowl with cut-up tomatoes and cucumbers for an ideal summer snack.

The Emporium Selection mozzarella log was $3.30, which is a big plus.

When I tried the Mama Cozzi's five-cheese deli pizza, I didn't like it very much because it reminded me of school-cafeteria pizza, with sweet sauce and a thick, doughy base.

Still, Mama Cozzi's pizza has a spot in Aldi's Hall of Fame and this year, it took the No. 1 slot in the "ready when you are" category.

This year, I decided to try a different variety to see if I liked another version better. I don't usually like cauliflower-crust pizzas, but the 12-inch cauliflower-crust veggie pizza was the only other vegetarian-friendly option.

Out of the box, I thought the pizza looked OK, with some peppers, red onion, and mushrooms scattered across the surface. I popped it into a preheated oven and baked it for nine minutes.

It felt pretty flimsy when I put it in so I was worried I'd open the oven door to find the pizza collapsing through the gaps of the oven rack. It caved in a little on one side, but the crust crisped up quickly enough before total collapse. I also thought the cheese browned nicely during the quick baking time.

But the most impressive thing about Mama Cozzi's pizza was the flavor. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it. The sauce wasn't overpowering, the veggies added a nice flavor, the crust was thin and crispy, and the herbs were another delicious layer.

I'd buy the $8 cauliflower-crust version over the $6 five-cheese pizza, even if it's a little more expensive.

I don't have the biggest sweet tooth but I'll never turn down some ice cream. I'm a fan of Aldi's other Specially Selected products so I had high hopes for the brand's ice cream, which is sold in pints and tubs.

When I went to my local Aldi on a Sunday morning, the staff was doing a big restock in the freezer section. It seemed like they hadn't gotten to the desserts yet and I found only a few remaining pints of the Specially Selected vanilla-chocolate-almond and chocolate-peanut-butter flavors. I didn't see any tubs of plain vanilla or chocolate so I grabbed what I could find in the pint sizes.

I started out with the Specially Selected chocolate-peanut-butter flavor, which I expected to love. It was a chocolaty ice cream with a peanut-butter swirl throughout. The frozen peanut butter had become brittle but it still tasted good with the rich chocolate.

I wasn't as excited about the vanilla option, but it ended up being my favorite. The vanilla still tasted indulgent, and the crunchy chocolate-covered almond pieces helped keep the ice cream from being boring.

I'd buy both flavors again but I'd go to Aldi just to pick up the vanilla-chocolate-almond ice cream on its own. The pints were $3 each.

Shoppers have long known that Aldi offers some pretty great deals on wine.

This year, Aldi shoppers voted the Belletti sparkling Moscato rosé as the top pick in the "raise a glass" category. For $8 a bottle, it wasn't the cheapest offering at Aldi, but still a great deal for a sparkling rosé.

As I expected, the Belletti wine was extremely sweet. I prefer a dry wine so it wasn't quite my taste.

I think some acidic orange juice in a mimosa would balance it out, but it's still a decent wine for people who prefer a sweet rosé. It had a strong berry flavor and was light and crisp.

I don't think I'd buy it again for myself but I wouldn't mind adding it to a brunch spread for friends and family.