If you don't drink cows' milk, what do you do for unexpected guests?

[lemonmeringuepi]

If I know that someone is going to be calling round for a cup of tea/coffee, then I buy cows' milk (even though it's wasteful to buy a pint just to put milk in one or two cups of tea).

The problem is what to do about people popping in unexpectedly. I tried freezing cows' milk in very small containers, so that I could thaw it in the microwave, but when it was thawed the fat stayed separate and looked off-putting. I guess that would not happen with skimmed milk, so I could freeze skimmed milk, but not everyone likes it.

Another option would be to get single-portion tubs of UHT milk, like some B&Bs have, but is UHT milk horrid?

Personally I drink oat milk, but people would not necessarily want that in their cup of tea/coffee.

What do you do, if you don't drink cows' milk?!

@TreeSmuggler

Surely they could have a black tea or a cup of water. People won't actually die if they go without the exact hot drink they like for an hour.

No, there is no suggestion it would be fatal. But many folks don’t like to offer guests a glass of water only 😂

Do them a favour and introduce them to plant milk!

I don't use any kind of milk at all, if people are not expected they get offered what I've got in.

They would have to do without or accept some kind of substitute, if I had it.

I’ve had the same problem with sugar. I don’t always have any in the house.

I have a vegan pal & I just use whatever milk she has (oat or almond generally) I like it & I like to try her vegan alternatives. If she comes to me she either brings a bit of milk or has it black. I think people need to accept your views and take what is on offer.

I buy milk if people are coming but also have a few little packets of McDonald's milk in the fridge for emergency's

We don’t have any kind of milk in the house, so if a guest is unexpected they are offered black tea/coffee herbal teas, water, cordial or wine/beer if appropriate.

If they are expected I will always get in some milk, but as we live a 15 min drive to the nearest ship, we can’t just “pop out”.

@Haus1234

“We only have oat milk, would you prefer that or black tea/coffee?”

This...particularly for uninvited guests.

My best mate is vegetarian and uses plant milk...if I go to hers I have that or black coffee.

She doesn't mind drinking cows milk when she comes to mine but wouldn't choose it herself.

I've recently switched to soy for some things though so she has options now!

I keep a supply of the little sachets you get in hotels.

No, there is no suggestion it would be fatal. But many folks don’t like to offer guests a glass of water only 😂

They're not being offered a glass of water only though, are they?

They're being offered a choice of coffee (with or without oat milk), tea (with or without oat milk), water, and possibly some other options too.

My Mum has got into the habit of oat milk and she has passed no remarks a couple of times and nobody has ever said anything and have returned. (I drink mine black so can't comment but DH drinks milk and has drunk plenty of coffees at my DMs)

Just get an ice cube tray and pop milk into each cube and freeze, you can take out easily as needed and will thaw quickly

I don’t have tea or coffee in the house, never mind cows milk. My parents know to bring a pint of milk and their tea bags, anyone else is welcome to squash, pop, fruit tea etc that we have in the house 🤷‍♀️

I wouldn't say anything but I'd be so pissed off if you couldn't give me a proper cup of tea, I'd consider it rude. I always try to cater for my guests preferences.

When we have friends visit who don't drink cows milk I buy in a small carton of dairy free milk, one I know they drink. If they are staying for the weekend I also buy in other things they might need based on our meals. They've also been known to bring their own.

If you know they're coming I'd grab a pint of cows milk, or at least warn them so they can bring their own with them. If it's an unexpected guest popping in then just offer what you have, or a cold drink.

@thingamebob

I wouldn't say anything but I'd be so pissed off if you couldn't give me a proper cup of tea, I'd consider it rude. I always try to cater for my guests preferences.

So in your scenario you arrive unannounced at the house of someone you know has an ethical objection to milk, become pissed off that they haven't purchased the item you know they ethically object to in advance just in case you came to visit - and you think they're the rude ones?

For unexpected visitors I think it's perfectly fine to explain that you don't keep dairy milk in the house, but they're welcome to oat milk / black tea / herbal tea / water / juice whatever you have to offer.

If you're inviting guests over for coffee then it's probably polite to make sure there is milk for their drinks the same as they'd (hopefully) buy you oat milk if you were a guest in their homes. Send any unused milk home with them to avoid waste.

What you could do is buy the one pint carton of milk and freeze in ice cube trays. When some one has coffee or tea just drop one or two in their drink. I have done this and it was ok.

In regards to milk separating after thawing, just give it a shake and it will be ok.

I would just have a couple of cartons of uht in for unexpected visits. A splash in a hot drink isn't that same as drinking it alone, it's fine

@Haus1234

“We only have oat milk, would you prefer that or black tea/coffee?”

this

for the very occassionl planned guests the infividual uht pots are fine imo.
or you could freeze a pint in ice cube trays.