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Original poster

Is 1am too early for milk delivery?

90 replies

MidnightMilkman · 19/10/2024 09:46

We've recently started getting milk delivered. The website says they deliver before 7am, which is great as we leave for work just after 7, meaning we can stick it in the fridge before we go.

But, milkman is delivering at 1am. Is this normal? It feels too early to me as the milk is then sitting out for several hours.

OP posts:
Workiskilligme · 19/10/2024 10:11

What about your neighbours? The milkman in our street is so fucking loud at 4am.

PCOSisaid · 19/10/2024 10:08

We are not far from the dairy farm so tend to get ours around 1am too, been having our milk delivered for 10+ years and never had a problem.

Unless it snows and the cream freezes - you get a delightful icecream frozen fountain

TidyDancer · 19/10/2024 10:08

Ours varies a bit, 1am is probably the earliest I can remember but it has been 6am on occasion. We started it shortly before the first covid lockdown so had it a while and I think the later times have been during the summer months so it works quite well. Haven't had to use a cool box yet.

theugly5 · 19/10/2024 10:01

Our milk is delivered at around 1.30am year round, we bring it in around 6.30/7 and it has never gone off! It does help that it is freezing cold when delivered

Original poster
MidnightMilkman · 19/10/2024 10:00

This is going to sound like a total lie, but I just remembered I used to do (help with) a milkround on a Saturday as a teenager. I used to get picked up around 4.30, so I guess I was basing my expectation off that.

I think we did deliver up until around 9am though, so the commitment to before 7am will be the issue.

Any insulated box recommendations? Do I just go with the one they sell?

OP posts:
SnapdragonToadflax · 19/10/2024 09:59

That's normal for us, it comes anywhere between midnight and 5am. I haven't had any problems with milk going off, except the day I left it out all day in midsummer 🤦 We don't have a coolbox but our front door is north facing.

Could you request they leave it in a shady spot?

I didn't rush out to get the milk in this morning as it was pouring with rain. It'll be fine.

SquirrelBlue · 19/10/2024 09:58

I have milk delivered with one of those insulated boxes they provide. Never had a problem with temperature even when I've forgotten to collect it until midday and its been in the sun!

BMW6 · 19/10/2024 09:57

As for overnight temperature he never once had a customer complaint about milk turning sour overnight.

toomuchfaff · 19/10/2024 09:56

They can't deliver to everyone at 6am so probably start during the night/early hours.

Exactly, he's not Santa! I'm not sure how hot it gets in your area at 3am, but round ours, it's cold enough to keep the milk til we get up.

BMW6 · 19/10/2024 09:56

They're not Santa - someone has to be first!

My DH was a milkman for 13 years. His first delivery was at around midnight, last 5am so everyone had milk for breakfasts.

Original poster
MidnightMilkman · 19/10/2024 09:54

We've only been having deliveries a few weeks so I'm not sure about summer. We were just testing it before committing to a regular delivery, but will order one of the cool boxes if we do.
But are these good enough for summer use? The front of the house gets the morning sun, and I'm not sure even an insulated box would be cold enough in summer.

It's also not really that cold outside yet. It was 14 degrees when I got the milk in at 7am, and a quick look at tonight shows it's 10/11 all night. I known it'll get colder, but we may have to go back to shop bought milk if 1am is standard.

OP posts:
rattling · 19/10/2024 09:53

I think ours deliver around that time year round - we don't have a cool box and we haven't had a problem (but we are in Scotland). The milk generally lasts way past the date on the bottle.

FrangipaniBlue · 19/10/2024 09:50

Mine arrives anywhere between 1.30am and about 4.30am

Bibbitybobbity70 · 19/10/2024 09:49

Depends on time of Yr & outside temp. Over autumn/winter ours delivers quite early, around 2am which is fine as basically fridge temp outside anyway. In warmer months they deliver around 5am & ask people to put a cool box outside for the milk.

Vanillalattecandle · 19/10/2024 09:49

They can't deliver to everyone at 6am so probably start during the night/early hours.

This time of year it wouldn't bother me as it will be cool enough outside but the height of summer when nights are still warm it would.
Were they doing this then too?

I cancelled my milkman as he was meant to come before 8 but regularly came after I'd left for work so the milk was out all day in the warm.