I’ve purchased a few pieces of cookware from Aldi over the years, including a porcelain enamel stockpot, a pancake pan, a roasting pan, mini casserole dishes, and a two-burner griddle. The discount grocer can be a good place to get reasonably priced pots, pans, skillets, and more for preparing meals at home.
When one of my older 3-quart saucepans from Walmart began to wear out, I kept an eye on the weekly Aldi ad to see if I could pick up a new saucepan. Aldi didn’t let me down. I recently purchased a 3.5-quart ceramic saucepan.
The Crofton Ceramic Saucepan is 8 inches in diameter and cost $14.99 at the time of publication. At the time, Aldi was also selling an 8″ and 10″ ceramic nonstick fry pan set or a 12″ ceramic nonstick fry pan for the same price.
This is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a short time. Aldi does not ship products like this after they sell out in your local store.
Ceramic pans, according to The Kitchn, are metal pans with a silicon finish that prevents sticking. Some people tout ceramic pans’ health benefits (because you can often cook with less oil or butter) or say they’re better for the environment, but those claims are disputed. There are also some concerns about the safety of using ceramic cookware, with recommendations to buy from reputable manufacturers and avoid buying cheap cookware in order to avoid undesirable chemicals leaching into your food.
With that said, here’s more information on all of the pans from Aldi:
- Made without PTFE and PFOA
- Durable aluminum provides uniform heat distribution
- Lead and cadmium free
- Tapered rim for dripless pouring
- Fusion Ti is, according to the package, a “titanium-reinforced ceramic nonstick from Whitford” that is a trademark of PPG Industries that “browns and sears faster and better than conventional nonsticks”
- Fusion Ti offers “superior release and best-in-class stain resistance”
- Compatible with gas, electric, halogen, and glass ceramic stovetops
- Made without PFOA or PTFE (Note that the use of PFOA in making nonstick cookware was discontinued in 2015.)
- Available in Beige or Green
- Made in China
The pans come with a two-year warranty. For service, you can call 888-463-5530 or email help@solutionservice.us.
The pan comes with a sheet that has use and care instructions, which include hand washing the pan in warm soapy water with a dish cloth or soft sponge before using. Rinse and dry. The cookware should be placed on a burner no larger than the bottom of the pan. The pan should heat gradually on the burner; don’t put it on a preheated burner. Heat settings of medium or lower will give best results; avoid high heat to preserve the nonstick surface and avoid discoloration of the pan’s interior. Don’t overheat an empty pan, and don’t allow open flame to travel up the sides of the pan while using a gas range stovetop.
The manual also explains that the Fusion TI surface is designed to stand up to rough treatment but will last longer if you’re careful not to scratch the surface with a sharp point, and don’t cut food with a knife in the pan. Always use nylon, wood, or plastic utensils with a nonstick pan. Don’t use abrasive cleaning products such as steel wool, scouring pads, or abrasive cleaners. Hand washing is recommended.
To remove stains from the nonstick interior, use a solution of 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes, then let the pan cool before washing.
I initially used the saucepan to prepare some au gratin potatoes, and so far, so good. The pan heated quickly on my gas stovetop and the potato and sauce mixture efficiently came to a rolling boil.
The handle on the pan is hollow metal with no cushioning or much contouring to fit your hand, but it’s fairly comfortable to hold. The side of the handle nearest to the pan got a bit hot while cooking, but I was able to comfortably hold the handle farther out. The handle on the lid is also metal and does get hot while you’re cooking, so you’ll want a pot holder to handle the lid with.
The potatoes didn’t stick to my pan, and the pan was easy to wash out afterward.
I’ve also used this pan to fry up donut sticks and to make a quinoa and rice side dish. So far, I’m happy with this pan. Time will tell how well it holds up after more use. I’ll update this post as necessary.
The Verdict:
The Crofton Ceramic Saucepan is a colorful, pretty nonstick saucepan. It’s worked well for us so far, although we don’t know how long it will last. If you need inexpensive cookware, this fits the bill.
