Open Thread: Crofton Cast Iron Skillet and Dutch Oven

Last Updated on July 9, 2023

This post is an open thread and contains affiliate links.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Aldi sold these again in October of 2022. The cast iron skillet is the same price of $9.99 in 2022, while the cast iron Dutch oven costs $5 more at $34.99. 

Cast iron cookware is old, perhaps close to two thousand years old. Cast iron pots were used for cooking over an open fire in the time before a standard kitchen stove, but even as gas and electric ranges entered the market, cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens were still common.

However, in the 20th century, a new invention changed everything. Teflon-coated cookware arrived. Teflon was easy to use and didn’t require seasoning, so it quickly replaced cast iron as the main cookware in American homes.

Cast iron is by no means dead. In recent years, cast iron has had a bit of a comeback. Some of that may be nostalgia, but there are practical reasons, too. Teflon and other nonstick cookware is convenient, but it inevitably wears out, sometimes pretty quickly. Some people also worry about the safety of nonstick chemicals. Cast iron, by contrast, is quite durable if you take care of it. There is even some evidence cast iron might have minor health benefits.

It’s important to know that cast iron does require a little work. You have to make sure it’s clean, seasoned, and dry before storing it, for example, and you should avoid using metal utensils on it if possible. If you follow the rules, cast iron typically lasts for a long time.

Aldi often sells cast iron cookware under the Crofton label, and in a different varieties. We see cast iron in Aldi every few months or so. A while back, for example, Aldi sold lightweight cast iron, which is a little different from the more standard cast iron we’re looking at here.

All of Aldi’s cast iron are Aldi Finds, which means they’re only in stores for a limited time. Once they’re gone, they’re gone, although you don’t usually have to wait long for more cast iron cookware to return.

What We Know:

Aldi sold two different cast iron products in the fall of 2021.

Crofton Cast Iron 10" Skillet

Crofton Cast Iron 10″ Skillet

The Crofton Cast Iron 10″ Skillet (product code 44230) sold for $9.99 in October of 2021. This is your more traditional cast iron skillet.

Here’s more info on the skillet:

  • Measures 10″ in diameter
  • Pre-seasoned for easy release during use
  • Use to sear, sauté, bake, broil, braise, and fry
  • Includes helper handle
  • Pouring spout on both sides
  • Oven safe up to 500 °F
  • Compatible with glass ceramic, gas, electric, and induction stovetops
Crofton Cast Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven

Crofton Cast Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven

The Crofton Cast Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven (product code 5080) cost $29.99 in October of 2021. That’s $5 more than the lightweight version that Aldi sold back in February, but it’s the same price this model sold for back in 2020.

Here’s more info on the Dutch oven:

  • Long-lasting porcelain enamel interior and exterior finish
  • Superior heat retention and distribution
  • Self-basting lid with oven-safe stainless steel knob
  • Integrated cast handles
  • Safe for gas, electric, glass ceramic, and induction stovetops
  • Oven safe up to 400 °F
  • Comes with a two-year warranty
  • Available in White with Gold Knob or Indigo with Silver Knob
  • Includes recipes

What We Don’t Know:

We don’t know who makes Aldi cast iron products, including skillets and Dutch ovens. Aldi labels like Crofton aren’t companies, so Aldi sources from a variety of manufacturers, even under the same brand label. That means Crofton cookware may come from different makers, both from year to year and from product to product.


Do you have experience with Aldi cast iron cookware? Let us know in the comments.

About Joshua

Joshua is the Co-founder of Aldi Reviewer. He is also a writer and novelist. You can learn more about him at joshuaajohnston.com.

4 Comments

  1. I have a Crofton 5 qt dutch oven from a few years ago and love it. Great quality and you can use it for everything. Still looks like new.

  2. Catherine A. McClarey

    Has anyone tried using the Crofton Dutch ovens at temperatures higher than 400F? If the lid and its knob are both metal, they might be able to endure the slightly higher temperatures (450-500F) required for no-knead bread and “Glorious One-Pot Meal” recipes, as I’ve been able to do with my Lodge 6-qt. Dutch oven (after I replaced the original knob with a metal drawer pull from the hardware store).

  3. My first and most used cast iron piece of cookware is a Crofton Comal. (Kind of a 10″ round griddle). It is well seasoned by now and I use it for pancakes, hot sandwiches, tortillas, and sometimes for various meats.

  4. if the handles are metal they will handle the 450 temperature without issue. Many dutch ovens which have black knobs may feel like metal but they are bakelite plastic. and will not handle the 450F. If the knobs are plastic fear not….you can purchase metal replacement knobs specifically for dutch ovens on Amazon. I purchased a pair for my non Aldis dutch ovens which had the black plastic knobs about $8 and they fit perfectly (non Aldi dutch oven) and handle the temperature perfectly

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