Aldi Just Brought Back These Iconic Le Creuset Dupes (That Cost Way Less)

While Aldi is best known for suspiciously cheap deals on meat and other grocery staples, it also occasionally has bargains on products such as Dutch ovens that help folks cook those foods. The best part is they're usually available for a steal compared to high-end name brands like Le Creuset. The drawback is they aren't stocked regularly. But anyone looking for a bargain on a Dutch oven right now is in luck because Aldi is currently offering customers an absolute steal on Crofton Cast Iron Dutch Ovens for a fraction of the price it costs to bring a Le Creuset home.

The choices are limited to two sizes that come in two colors. There's a traditional circular model with an 18-centimeter diameter (roughly 7 inches), and a slightly larger 24-centimeter (about 10 inches) oval-shaped unit. Shoppers can choose between a cream or forest green color with a dark-to-light gradient for either Dutch oven. But the attractiveness of the cookware is nowhere near as impressive as the cost: $19.99 for the round units and $29.99 for the oval models.

To put those prices in perspective, low-end Le Creuset Dutch ovens can command $219 (doesn't sound so "low-end" with that price tag, does it?). Higher-cost models go for upwards of $800. Adding to the perceived value, the Aldi dupes cost half as much as they previously did when they were last stocked. Still, we all know that you typically get what you pay for. So the question is: Are Aldi's Dutch ovens built to last, or are you just tossing 20 to 30 bucks down the drain?

Generally speaking, superior quality is expected for a higher price tag. Because they come with a limited lifetime warranty, it's safe to assume the exorbitant cost of a Le Creuset Dutch oven will be a one-time splurge on quality cookware. Still, given the incredibly alluring price, Aldi's dupe products must have some folks wondering if they can handle a frequent workload without showing significant signs of wear and tear. According to some people who have gambled on Crofton Dutch ovens, their bet has paid out in spades.

Plenty of people have recommended Crofton Dutch ovens on Reddit to folks who are a bit wary of the low cost. One person who uses them frequently said, "They are still going strong and I'm on year 3 and 4." In a separate thread where folks were questioning the quality of the cookware, someone noted, "I bought the oval dutch oven maybe five years ago. Love it. Going strong no rust or problems." A Facebook user also gave Crofton a good review when they said, "I bought a Dutch oven from them about 3 years ago, it's still by far my favorite piece of cookware."

With a Crofton Dutch oven from Aldi costing pennies compared to Le Creuset (which Consumer Reports apparently wasn't too impressed with), you're only out $20 or so if it chips, breaks, or doesn't live up to expectations. One Redditor said it best: "Absolutely worth a $30 purchase. Plus if you drop it or mange [sic] to otherwise damage it... it's just $30 and you can buy another one next year."