Whether impending tariffs go up, down, or sideways, one thing's clear — grocery prices are volatile in 2025. While we never recommend panic buying in the face of uncertainty, we do recommend smart buying, especially when it comes to pantry items that have a long shelf life. That's why we put together this list of smart grocery buys to prepare your stockpile for the possibility of prices going up due to tariffs.
Also check out our list of non-food deals to shop before tariffs (including items like backpacks, shoes, and clothing).
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9 Grocery Items to Buy Now Before Prices Go Up
We assembled this list based on current and potential tariffs that may go into effect in 2025, taking into account product shelf life, with added insight from the team at The Krazy Coupon Lady.
Canned Pineapple
Most pineapple in the U.S. gets imported from Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico, according to World Bank data. New tariffs on Costa Rica and Honduras currently sit at 10% as of April 2, which means the price of pineapple may rise in the coming months.
Walmart, Target, and Amazon are tied for the lowest regular prices on name-brand canned pineapple right now (as low as $0.08 per ounce for Del Monte). We've also seen canned pineapple prices drop even lower ($0.07 per ounce) during Mega Sales at Kroger. For the cheapest store-brand pineapple, go to Aldi, where pineapple chunks are $1.25 for a 20-ounce can ($0.06 per ounce).
Remember that if you shop on Amazon and select Subscribe & Save, you can clip a coupon for an additional 10% off.
What You Should Pay: $0.10 per ounce or less
Average Shelf Life: Up to 3 years
Canned Tuna
Much of our U.S. tuna gets imported from countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and China, where proposed tariffs start at 36% (for Thailand) and go up to 125% (for China, currently in place). Plus, it's packaged in aluminum, which is now subject to a 25% tariff. That makes canned tuna a smart pantry item to buy before prices rise.
In April, the lowest regular price we're finding on StarKist canned tuna is $0.17 per ounce at Amazon and Sam's Club — no tuna coupons necessary. A Subscribe & Save discount on Amazon will drop that price even lower (to $0.14 per ounce). But Costco is close behind, with canned Chicken of the Sea tuna priced at $0.18 an ounce.
What You Should Pay: $0.20 per ounce or less
Average Shelf Life: 2+ years
Canned Vegetables
Canned vegetables can stay fresh for up to five years, making them a smart buy since 25% aluminum tariffs went into effect in March 2025.
A good rule of thumb is to pay no more than $0.07 per ounce (around $1 for a 14.5-ounce can), which is totally doable if you shop Kroger's weekly ad deals or stick with the store brands at Target, Dollar General, or Aldi, where you'll pay $0.67 - $0.69 for a 14.5-ounce can.
What You Should Pay: $0.07 per ounce or less
Average Shelf Life: 2 - 5 years
Chocolate Chips
The U.S. imports cacao beans from the Ivory Coast and Ecuador, two areas that are now subject to 10% tariffs. If you use chocolate chips for baking, look for the lowest regular prices on name-brand Nestle Toll House morsels at Costco and Sam's Club, where you'll pay $0.19 per ounce. The next-cheapest place to shop is Walmart; their 36-ounce bag is $0.27 per ounce.
But don't forget about Amazon — their store-brand chocolate chips are even cheaper than Walmart, at just $0.22 per ounce. And Aldi's store brand (Baker's Corner) comes in at $0.26 per ounce.
What You Should Pay: $0.27 per ounce or less
Average Shelf Life: Dark chocolate (with less milk), up to 2 years — milk chocolate, up to 1 year
KCL TIP: For chocolate candy at least 60% off, plan to shop Easter clearance sales at stores like CVS, Walgreens, and Dollar Tree starting the day after Easter (April 21, 2025). Even if it has Easter packaging, you can easily repurpose chocolate candy for recipes without having to pay full price.
Coffee
Arabica coffee prices have been on the rise in recent months due to extreme weather and increased global demand, but now the two main countries that produce coffee beans — Brazil and Colombia — are under 10% tariffs. We've already seen prices go up 20% - 35% for coffee grounds at Costco over the last year, and reports suggest coffee prices will continue to climb in 2025.
Stock up on coffee during weekly sales at Kroger, where we see K-Cups and grounds go for at least 50% off during sales (with Kroger coupons that take the price down even further). Or invest in a Costco membership to take advantage of in-store coffee deals with prices as low as $0.29 per ounce (for Maxwell House grounds) or $0.33 per K-Cup pod (for the Kirkland store brand). Aldi is another good place to find cheap store-brand coffee — as low as $0.32 per ounce for grounds and $0.37 per K-Cup.
What You Should Pay: $0.40 or less per ounce / K-Cup pod
Average Shelf Life: Unopened, sealed beans up to 2 years — once opened, within 3 months for freshness
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil sourced from Italy and Spain now faces a 10% tariff, but that could rise to 20% in July if reciprocal tariffs are put in place. As of April, Sam's Club and Walmart have the best regular prices on name-brand Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($0.28 and $0.37 per ounce, respectively, for the big 68-ounce bottles).
Keep in mind that extra virgin olive oil is usually pricier than non-virgin olive oil (and others that are made from a blend). Alternatives like grapeseed oil will have a lower unit cost (around $0.24 per ounce).
What You Should Pay: $0.37 per ounce or less
Average Shelf Life: Unopened, up to 2 years, but try to use within 60 days of opening
Jasmine Rice
While the U.S. does produce a lot of white and brown rice, jasmine rice gets imported from countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Tariffs of 10% have already been imposed on those countries, but reciprocal tariffs could rise to 36% - 49% in the coming months. Since rice keeps for up to two years, stocking up at the current price could pay off later.
Walmart and Amazon are currently pretty much tied for the lowest regular price on Mahatma jasmine rice ($0.09 per ounce at Walmart and $0.08 on Amazon, or $1.38 per pound). But Aldi has store-brand Earthly Grains jasmine rice even cheaper — just $0.07 per ounce for a 5-pound bag.
What You Should Pay: $0.09 per ounce or less
Average Shelf Life: Tightly sealed, can last for up to 2 years
KCL TIP: If you have room to store a 25-pound bag of jasmine rice, shop at Sam's Club or in-store at Costco to pay as low as $17.99 per bag (only $0.04 per ounce).
Sugar
Pure cane sugar gets imported to the U.S. from Mexico and Brazil, which both have a 10% tariff. Since sugar can be stored for virtually forever, it's a smart buy if you can stock up at a low price (we recommend $0.06 per ounce or less).
You'll pay $0.05 per ounce for store brand sugar at Target, Walmart, Dollar General, and Aldi, without the need for sugar coupons. If you prefer name brand sugar, go with Costco or Sam's Club to pay the same low price per ounce.
What You Should Pay: $0.06 per ounce or less
Average Shelf Life: Virtually unlimited shelf life, but keep tightly sealed in a cool, dry place
Vanilla
Pure vanilla extract gets imported to the U.S. from Madagascar, which is currently under a 10% tariff, but the country faces potential reciprocal tariffs of 47% by July. Vanilla is one of the priciest pantry staples to buy, but stocking up when the price is $3 or less per ounce is a smart strategy, especially since it keeps for up to four years. You can also switch to imitation vanilla, which can be up to 65% cheaper.
Costco and Amazon have the best prices right now on pure vanilla extract — as low as $0.62 per ounce at Costco and $1.19 per ounce on Amazon. The next-cheapest place to buy pure vanilla extract is Aldi ($2.50 per ounce for their Stonemill brand).
What You Should Pay: $3 per ounce or less
Average Shelf Life: Up to 4 years
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