Kitchen Essentials to Buy Before Tariffs Take Effect

You’ve likely heard news of widespread tariffs to come. The rippling effect is expected to impact grocery store goods and kitchenware, so we reached out to professional chefs and top brands to find out what people should grab now if they want to get ahead of the incoming tariffs. Whether a product is manufactured from foreign parts or imported entirely, like Japanese knives or French cookware, any item that touches the international supply chain may be affected. Pro chefs and leaders at Zwilling, Henckels, and Vitamix agree: If you need to make a kitchen upgrade, now’s the time to buy it.

Kitchen Essentials to Grab Ahead of Tariffs

• Zwilling Enfinigy Personal Blender, from $95, originally $130 at amazon.com and zwilling.com
• Zwilling Enfinigy Cool Touch 1.5-Liter Electric Kettle Pro, $150, originally $170 at amazon.com and zwilling.com
• Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender, $357, originally $380 at amazon.com and vitamix.com
• Henckels Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Set with Block, $121 at amazon.com and henckels.com
• Popsmith Popcorn Popper, $219 at amazon.com and popsmith.com
• Oleificio Guccione Zahara Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Italy, $38 at amazon.com
• Imperia Italian Pasta Machine, $70, originally $80 at amazon.com
• Misono UX10 Santoku Knife, $148, originally $201 at amazon.com
• Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven, $300, originally $450 at amazon.com and at lecreuset.com

Zwilling Enfinigy Personal Blender

“As it stands today, we expect a higher tariff on goods from China,” shares Joanna Rosenberg, chief sales and marketing officer at Zwilling. Rosenberg encourages buyers to make upgrades “before the end of May,” especially when it comes to countertop appliances. She specifically calls out the Zwilling Enfinigy collection, which we’ve ranked highly in various kitchen equipment reviews. The personal blender from this series has a ridged cup and stylish control wheel that stood out during tests. It also makes silky smoothies and comes with a drinking lid for turning the blending vessel into a travel cup.

Zwilling Enfinigy Cool Touch 1.5-Liter Electric Kettle Pro

Another standout from the Enfinigy collection, this electric kettle took the top spot in our review, thanks to its speed and accuracy. The dual-walled design, combined with the 30-minute “keep warm” feature, keeps water hot for longer compared to other models we tested. We also liked that, true to its name, the outside stayed cool to the touch while in use.

Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender

“Vitamix is actively monitoring and adapting to tariff developments as they’re announced,” says Steve Laserson, chief executive officer at Vitamix. While a majority of Vitamix blenders are assembled domestically, the company still sources raw materials and components globally. “Increases in costs of these inputs could affect our future pricing,” Laserson continues. As equipment testers who’ve seen first-hand the sheer power of a Vitamix blender, we believe they’re worth the investment on a regular day, but now might be the right time to snag one if you’ve been eyeing your own. The Explorian is an all-rounder that makes exceptionally silky smoothies, soups, and sauces.

Henckels Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Set with Block

Marc Lickfett, vice president of digital transformation at Henckels, says, “Our goal is to minimize the impact of any potential tariffs on our customers.” Henckels manufactures “around the world,” and is monitoring changes daily. “Some cost increases are to be expected around mid-year.” For those looking to make blade upgrades this spring, this is the moment to snag a full knife set before tariffs take effect. This customer-loved 15-piece set comes with all the essentials: a 3-inch paring knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 8-inch chef's knife, 8-inch bread knife, 4.5-inch steak knife set, honing steel, kitchen shears, and hardwood knife block. 

Popsmith Popcorn Popper

Small businesses are also navigating tariff developments in real time. According to an email sent out by Popsmith co-founders David Stickland and Tal Moore, “there’s a high likelihood” that a tariff surcharge will be added to future orders. “This isn’t something we take lightly,” they share in the statement. “We’ve been absorbing tariff-related costs for as long as we could.” The Popsmith popper happens to be one of our favorite popcorn makers, and it’s especially worth grabbing now before prices have to go up.

Oleificio Guccione Zahara Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Italy

It’s not just kitchen knives and electric appliances that will be affected. Frank Bonanno, chef and founder at Bonanno Concepts in Denver, Colorado, encourages people to snag non-perishable imported food items. He says he’s stockpiling Oleificio Guccione olive oil, which “delivers exceptional flavor intensity that simply can't be matched by domestic alternatives.”According to Bonanno, it’s worth snagging specialty products like this olive oil or aged balsamic vinegars before tariffs take effect.

Imperia Italian Pasta Machine

Bonanno calls this the “authentic pasta machine that professional kitchens rely on for consistent results.” It has precise, adjustable settings for achieving your desired pasta thickness every time. To achieve the homemade pasta dinners of your dreams, now’s the time to grab this pasta maker. “The Italian engineering and manufacturing quality can't be replicated in non-European alternatives,” Bonanno emphasizes.

Misono UX10 Santoku Knife

Chef Nicholas Lomba of Bar Lumière in New York City says home cooks should invest in knife upgrades now, especially if they “like using restaurant-quality equipment.” Lomba recommends grabbing the Japanese-made Misono UX10 santoku knife, along with other knives in the series, as they “are popular among chefs” for their precision.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven

“These durable Dutch ovens have so many uses,” shares Lomba. “They can go from stovetop to oven and are great for stews, soups, braises, and more.” While there are no official confirmations on Le Creuset price increases, Lomba likes to play it safe. “As a chef, I'm looking to buy things now before prices go up, and I recommend home cooks who are used to products being a certain price do the same.” Plus, this time-tested classic is on sale for $150 off.