If you live in Australia, here’s a quick headsup – Aldi have good quality cast iron pots on sale this Wednesday (25th June 2014). For those of you who haven’t shopped at Aldi before – these items only appear occasionally, so it’s worth stocking up while you can.
I don’t own any of these, but my darling friend Liz from Bizzy Lizzy’s Good Things wrote a post about the Aldi pots just last week. She loves them – a big recommendation given that she used to sell the expensive brands in her cookware store! The prices are really cheap – $20 for a cast iron Dutch oven, $25 for a French pan – in a choice of four different colours. The newsletter is here if you’d like more information…
. . . . .
Having said all that, I won’t be fighting you for them, no matter how much of a bargain they are. Unlike most of my fellow food bloggers, I’m not a fan of enameled cast iron, but I know many of you love them, so I thought I’d pass on the info. Have fun shopping!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Thanks for the heads-up, Celia, but I’ve got a cupboard full of cast iron – and aging wrists.
I’m so with you on that one, hon. I’m completely obsessed with clay at the moment (as you’ve probably noticed!). :)
I am with you as well, that’s why I won’t buy too much more : )
Aw thanks for the shout out Celia, darling, so far all the comments that have come in on the cheaper Aldi version have been really quite good… time well tell, but I will always opt to spend $19 over $500! : )
Thanks lovely xoxo
Bought some Aldi ones about 6 years ago. Been great, still going strong. I always drooled over the beautiful Le Crueset etc but just cannot justify the cost. I have to take the handle off the Aldi one so it can fit in my ‘toy oven’ though.
I have an iitala cast iron pot with an enameled inside. It cost a lot more than the Aldi ones. I use it on my wood fired stufa at Casa Debbio and I love it.
I bought a set of Aldi pots 7 years ago. Like almost everything Aldi; good, solid, long wearing, reliable and their refund policy if you have concerns is commendable. My favourite pot in the kitchen at present is the Aldi electric pressure cooker, it’s amazing how creative pressure cooking can be … I just love it.
HI Celia, I got excited a couple of years ago when I saw them. I wanted the dutch oven for a no knead bread, unfortunately the handles couldn’t take the temp needed for the bread so I didn’t get them.
Thankfully kmart had one with metal handle and was even cheaper…..I’m not sure of the ethics behind such a cheap item but it did make a lovely bread…
cheers
Jason
I have one pot but I find them really heavy. I have already broken a cooktop with the pot I have (dropped a very hot pan) so maybe they’re not for me either. :)
I have the Dutch oven which I bought about 3 years ago with a view to making no-knead bread but now I eat gluten free and don’t make bread so it is languishing in the bottom cupboard………..I makes casseroles etc in the slow cooker. At only $20, at least I don’t feel too bad about not using it.
Thanks for passing on the recommendation, have been wondering about the Aldi brand of enameled cast iron cookware.
I’ll definitely check them out thanks!
I am a big fan of the cast iron cookware, but I agree it is monstrously heavy.
Thank you so much for the heads up. I burnt my pot beyond repair and it was given to me as a gift. I haven’t been able to afford an expensive one so now I can. I was wondering why you don’t like them?
Zena, they’re a bad fit with me – too heavy, easily stained, non-dishwasherable! :)
Those are exactly the reasons I don’t have any, Celia!
Not sure if Aldi’s cast iron will be able to bake my sourdough since the plastic handle can only take 220 degrees from what I saw.
Pretty good buys! Thank you for sharing this, Celia!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Celia, what is it about enameled pots that you don’t care for? Does this include La Cruset? I’m curious. Hugs, Maz. :-)
Maz, “don’t care for” is too soft, I can’t stand them. I HAD three incredibly expensive Le Creuset pieces, and I GAVE them away, I disliked them so much. They’re heavy, they stained almost instantly, they were hard to wash and store, and they didn’t go in the dishwasher. I’ve now switched to flameproof clay and couldn’t be happier. :)
Ooh luckily there is no Aldi in WA otherwise I would be tempted
Nice color, 5 years Warranty really attractive
They had them here in England a few weeks ago and now I’m kicking myself that I didn’t buy a few pieces as they looked great and the quality seemed pretty good too.
Chica, they’re a regular item according to Lizzy, so they should pop up again if you’re interested.
Will look out for them!
Those are great prices and cookware is so expensive. When I got married the Copco brand of coated cast iron was the rage and I think they are much better than stainless steel…but oh do they weigh a ton!
Yep, not for me at all. But I’m definitely in the minority there! :)
Thanks so much for the heads, up, I was just thinking of getting few items! Liz x
Hi Celia, I know people love them but they are just so heavy and that’s when empty! One of my old colleagues bought a bunch from Aldi a while back and he loves them.
What happens if one quite appreciates cast iron cookware but will not buy anything from Aldi as I buy Australian and do not like my profits flying out of the country? Don’t answer . . .I AM one of those peculiar ‘greenies’ . . . : !
Easy. Don’t buy it. Though to be honest, I don’t think you’ll find any Australian made cast iron enamelware. :)
:) ! Haven’t!!! ;) !! Methinks we all have to go ‘our way’ to be happy!! Meanwhile, do have those few pieces from before . . . . heaps of love Eha
I know exactly what you mean! I feel like the odd woman out sometimes because I actually can’t stand cast iron cookware! :) And I didn’t mean my earlier reply to sound harsh – sorry if it did – I fully respect your decision to support Aussie businesses! :)
Lordy – did not :) ! Methinks I have been on your site enough to have ‘met you’ and thoroughly appreciate what you are on about :) ! [Sheesh! Would get 0/10 for grammar !!!]
I love my Aldi cast iron. I’m looking forward to Wednesday to replace the pot I ruined. They do stain, but that doesn’t seem to affect the cooking. The only downside is the handles can’t withstand the temp needed for no knead bread, but I have my trusty old corningware casserole for that.
Melissa try a weak bleach solution on the stains : )
Danging the wonder of cheap cast iron pots and pans over a poor Tasmanians head who isn’t privy to Aldi…sigh…
If it wasn’t cast iron, I post you some pieces!
Thank you Liz :) What a kind person you are. I know what you mean, that’s what stops we Taswegians from buying a lot of things that you mainlanders are able to take advantage of. I come from Western Australia and sometimes really miss the variety on the Mainland.
I read about these bargains on Lizzy’s blog. I still can’t believe the prices! xx
Wow, that’s a bargain! I wouldn’t be able to tell how many hours I’ve browsed the Le creuset cookware range (they’re not even cheaper back home in France) thinking I couldn’t reasonably spend that much on cookware!