Crofton Cast Iron Sauce Pan

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Aldi is known for occasionally selling dupes of expensive Le Creuset enameled cast iron cookware. The grocer has sold braisers, roasters, French ovens, bread ovens, and more.

We’ve talked about these products a lot at Aldi Reviewer, but we didn’t have much personal experience actually using Aldi enameled cast iron cookware. I decided it was high time to change that.

A recent weekly Aldi ad featured several different porcelain enameled cast iron pots, pans, and Dutch ovens. I purchased one of the sauce pans to bring home and review.

There is something to like about this style of cast iron cookware because it does not require seasoning like traditional non-enameled cast iron pots and pans. The cast iron is completely covered with a smooth and polished porcelain enamel, often in colorful designs. It has the weight and heft of cast iron, but it’s low maintenance. You can wash and use it just like other types of cookware.

The Crofton Cast Iron Sauce Pan is an Aldi Find. That means it’s in stores for only a short time. Each store gets one shipment, and after that sells out, it’s gone. Aldi does not offer online ordering for products that are not currently in stock at your local store.

I paid $16.99 for this at my local Aldi store at the time of publication. That’s half the price of the cheapest ceramic or enameled cast iron sauce pans I found on Amazon at the time of publication. Certain brands cost much more, going into the $100s.

The Aldi sauce pan is 1.75 quarts, or 1.7 liters. The same-sized Le Creuset sauce pan would cost you $180-$268, with most running $225 at the time of publication.

This particular Aldi sauce pan was available in white or green. I got the green one.

Crofton Cast Iron Sauce Pan — Details on the back of the packaging. (Click to enlarge.)

Here’s more information from the packaging:

Features an interior cooking diameter of 6.46″
Made with long-lasting porcelain enamel interior and exterior
For use on glass ceramic, gas, electric, induction, and halogen cooking surfaces (the manual recommends consulting your stovetop appliance manual to make sure it’s compatible with enameled cast iron cookware)
Oven safe up to 482 degrees
Made in China

This comes with a 2-year warranty serviced by Protel, which is a common Aldi warranty service provider. For warranty service, call 1-855-754-8297 or email Aldi-US@protel-service.com.

The pan includes a lid, and it comes with a user manual with instructions on care and cleaning. The manual also includes a recipe for Triple Dutch Cheese Fondue using all-Aldi ingredients.

Crofton Cast Iron Sauce Pan 5 — The manual has a fondue recipe that uses all ingredients from Aldi. (Click to enlarge.)

Before using the pan, wash it with warm water and mild liquid soap. Rinse and dry immediately. Do not air dry it or store it wet.

Never wash this in the dishwasher. For cleaning after cooking, use a soft cloth or sponge, and avoid abrasive cleaners. You can soak the pan for 15-20 minutes to loosen residue. If staining occurs inside the pan, repeat the soaking process with 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water. You can also simmer that mixture on the stove at low to medium heat for an additional 15-20 minutes.

The manual says to always lift this when moving it on your stove to avoid scratching the stovetop and damaging the cookware. The bottom of the cookware may scratch glass or ceramic stovetops over time, so always place the pot carefully on the cooktop.

In addition, you’ll want to avoid dropping or hitting your cookware against a hard surface or the porcelain enamel coating may chip or crack.

Also, the manual notes that the handle will get hot during stovetop or oven use, so oven mitts or hot pads should be used.

Always use plastic, wood, or silicone utensils when stirring to avoid damaging the pan. Do not use mixers or handheld blenders in the pan.

The manual states this is not microwave safe, and it’s not for use on outdoor grills or campfires.

I’ve used this sauce pan several times now. I’ve made a few packages of instant mashed potatoes to go with an Aldi steak tips dinner. I also heated water and olive oil in it for homemade pizza dough. This pan size would also be good for heating canned soup, gravy, cooking small amounts of rice, cooking veggies, and other small cooking tasks.

The pan heats up relatively quickly and cooks as well as other pans I’ve used. The handle does get hot, so be sure to use a pot holder.

Not surprisingly, this is also heavy, as all cast iron cookware is. Its weight may not make it ideal for people with arthritis or other hand issues. It also might not be as easy for older people or kids (cooking under supervision) to use.

Otherwise, this is a nice piece. It’s very pretty and sturdy, and I’m looking forward to continuing to use it. I’ll update this post with any potential new developments.

The Verdict:

The Crofton Cast Iron Sauce Pan is a small piece of cookware with an interior diameter of nearly 6.5 inches. It’s made of cast iron that is entirely coated with porcelain enamel, making it so you don’t have to season it like traditional cast iron. It’s safe for use on a variety of stove top surfaces, and it’s also oven safe up to 482 degrees. If you like name-brand Le Creuset products but you’re looking for more affordable enameled cast iron cookware, give this a look.