I have several different sizes of skillets I’ve purchased from Aldi over the years, and none of them came with lids. This isn’t usually a problem if I’m cooking something like ground beef for tacos or scrambled eggs for breakfast. However, there are some times when I really could use a lid. For example, many of the frozen Chinese dishes at Aldi call for being cooked in a covered skillet or saucepan for at least part of the cooking time.
Enter a nifty kitchen accessory from Aldi: the Crofton Universal Lid.
This lid has a broad rubber rim with various concentric ridged circles so it can fit a variety of pans ranging from 10 to 12 inches in diameter. It looked like it could be surprisingly useful.
The Crofton Universal Lid cost $9.99 at the time of publication. Aldi also sold this lid in 2019 for $7.99, so the price has increased slightly over the years. Regardless of the gradual price increase, this lid still costs significantly less than other similar universal lids. It also looks exactly like several other universal lids that I spotted on Amazon that cost more.
The Crofton Universal Lid is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a short time. You can’t order it online after it sells out at your local store.
The lid is BPA free, dishwasher safe, and heat resistant up to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s made of tempered glass with a steam vent, and if features a comfort grip silicone knob and rim. It was made in China.
The underside of the lid, with packaging. (Click to enlarge.)
The packaging offers some use and care instructions:
- Before using, wash the lid with warm, soapy water. Rinse and towel dry.
- Allow the lid to cool before washing to prevent thermal shock.
- Do not place a hot lid on a cold surface or submerge in cold water. Sudden temperature changes may cause the glass to break.
- When cleaning the lid, do not use steel wool, metal scouring pads, or abrasive cleaners.
I tried this universal lid on three different Aldi fry pans I own that did not originally come with lids. It fit well on all of them.
The first frying pan I tried it on was the 12-inch Crofton Chef’s Collection Hard Anodized Fry Pan, which was in Aldi stores in October of 2021.
The Crofton Universal Lid on the 12-inch Crofton Chef’s Collection Hard Anodized Fry Pan.
I also tried the lid on some 10-inch and 12-inch Crofton Fry Pans that I purchased from Aldi about three years ago.
Crofton Universal Lid on a Crofton Fry Pan.
The lid fit well on all of the pans, with the flexible and ridged silicone rim providing a good seal. I am pleasantly surprised at how well this lid fits on a variety of pans and skillets.
The knob for this lid consists of a soft rubber piece fastened onto a hard plastic knob.
One minor quirk regarding this lid: it has a soft silicone knob in the middle for gripping. This knob is popped onto a small hard plastic knob, and if you tug on the silicone knob you can pull it off to reveal the hard plastic knob. The silicone knob tends to turn or spin a bit, and because of the way the entire knob apparatus is constructed, there is no way to prevent it from turning. It doesn’t spin a lot, so it should not really impact my ability to use the lid. But it is something I noticed.
Overall, this universal lid looks to be a good purchase, and I’m eager to use it in my own cooking adventures and see how it performs over time.
The Verdict:
The Crofton Universal Lid is made of tempered glass with a rubber rim and a rubber knob for gripping. It’s designed to fit pans that are 10 or 12 inches in diameter. We tried it on several different-sized pans from Aldi, and it fits them all well. If you have pans that didn’t originally come with their own lids — or if your original lids are broken — and you need to cook using a covered pan, this is worth considering.
