Coffee creamer

Sprinkle it into hot coffee while stirring, rather than tipping it in as one heap. If it still clumps, dissolve the powder in a little hot water first, then stir that into the coffee.

Yes, but start with a small amount: many creamers are sweetened and flavoured, so they can change the taste more than milk does. Powdered creamer dissolves best in freshly brewed, hot tea.

Not always. Some products use plant oils, while others contain milk ingredients such as casein or sodium caseinate; the word “non-dairy” alone does not guarantee that a product is free from milk.

Keep powdered creamer tightly sealed in a cool, dry cupboard and use a dry spoon to prevent moisture getting in. Refrigerate liquid creamer after opening if its packaging says to, and follow its use-by guidance.

For a similar creamy finish, add milk, single cream or an unsweetened plant drink such as oat or soya drink. In baking, powdered creamer can often be replaced with milk powder, but the result may be less sweet.

The names are often used for similar powdered or liquid products that lighten coffee, and both may contain vegetable oils, sugar and added flavourings. Coffee whitener is not necessarily dairy-free, either.

A 31 g amount is listed as saturated fat; a spoonful contributes less, but the amount depends on how much you add. Coffee creamer is concentrated, so a little can make coffee taste creamy.