Le Creuset Dupe Crofton Cast Iron 4.6-Quart French Oven Headed to Aldi

This post is an open thread. 

Aldi routinely rolls out cast iron cookware of all types: skillets and Dutch ovens, bread ovens, mini skillets, and even lightweight cast iron fry pans and Dutch ovens. Cast iron is heavy duty and isn’t always cheap. This is where purchasing it from a discount grocery store such as Aldi can come in handy.

Aldi recently introduced yet another piece of cast iron cookware. This time, it’s a 4.6-Quart French Oven that looks a lot like an expensive name-brand Le Creuset French oven that costs several hundred dollars.

What is a French oven? According to The Kitchn, a French oven is basically a Dutch oven that has been covered with an enamel coating. They both function essentially the same way, but the French oven looks fancier. Because their function is so similar, most French ovens are simply referred to as Dutch ovens.

Here’s a closer look at the Aldi French oven.

What We Know:

The Crofton Cast Iron 4.6-Quart French Oven (Product Code: 827202) is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a short time. Each store will receive one shipment, and after that sells out, it’s gone unless Aldi decides to bring it back at some later point. Aldi does not offer online ordering for products that are not currently in stock at your local store.

This French oven is scheduled to arrive in Aldi stores on either September 17th or September 20th of 2023, depending on whether your local store sets out new specials on Sundays or Wednesdays.

The Crofton Cast Iron 4.6-Quart French Oven cost $26.99 at the time of publication.

Here’s more information, according to Aldi:

• Available in White or Blue
• Interior dimensions: 11″ x 8.7″
• Offers superior heat retention and distribution
• Features long-lasting porcelain enamel interior and exterior
• Oven safe up to 482 °F
• Compatible with all cooktops, including induction
• Comes with a two-year warranty

When Aldi sold this French oven in 2021, the warranty was serviced by Protel, a common Aldi warranty provider. Aldi has not yet published information about who provides warranty service for the 2023 model.

What We Don’t Know:

We haven’t yet tried this French oven, so we don’t know how well it works, how easy it is to care for, or how it holds up to regular use. We write open threads so readers can talk about Aldi products.

Did you purchase the Crofton Cast Iron 4.6-Quart French Oven? Tell us what you think of it in the comments below.