This post is an open thread.
A couple of years ago in 2022, Aldi introduced some fry pans and sauté pans that were dupes of expensive Caraway pans. Genuine Caraway pan sets can cost hundreds of dollars. The Aldi cookware, meanwhile, cost only a fraction of the name brand. You can find our full reviews of each of those Aldi pan sets here and here. I still use those pans on a regular basis in my own kitchen.
Fast forward to the early spring of 2024, and Aldi appears to be bringing back its Caraway pan knockoffs. This year’s pans look a little different than what Aldi sold two years ago. The handle on the side of the sauté pan is changed, and it actually looks more comfortable to hold than the handle on the previous pan. The handles on the fry pan lids also look different.
What hasn’t changed is that these pans feature pretty muted or pastel colors and a nonstick cooking surface.
What We Know:
Sauté Pan with Lid in blue.
The Crofton Fry Pan Set or Sauté Pan with Lid (Product Code: 832176) is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a brief time. Every store gets one shipment, and after that sells out, they’re gone. If it’s not in stock at your local store, you can’t order it online.
This is scheduled to arrive in stores on March 20th, 2024.
The Crofton Fry Pan Set or Sauté Pan with Lid cost $19.99 each at the time of publication.
At the time of writing, a Caraway fry pan duo with a 10.5-inch pan and an 8-inch pan will cost you $185. Meanwhile, a Caraway sauté pan will set you back $145. That makes the Aldi pans potentially a great deal.
Fry Pan Set in white.
Here’s more information about the Aldi pans:
- Choose from blue or white sauté pan with lid, or blue or white 8″/10″ fry pan set
- Durable aluminum provides uniform heat distribution
- Features a durable stainless steel handle
- Includes non-stick coating for easy release
- Made with 100% recycled aluminum
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
- Compatible with gas, electric, glass ceramic, and halogen cooking surfaces
Caraway cookware sets are oven safe up to 550 degrees, but Aldi has not yet published information about whether their pans are oven safe.
What We Don’t Know:
We haven’t tried these new pans, so we don’t know how well they work or how long they last if you’re regularly cooking with them. We write open threads to provide readers with a place to discuss Aldi products.
Have you purchased the Crofton Fry Pan Set or Sauté Pan with Lid? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below.
