I love TVP. I use it at work all the time. Here are some tips on using it:

Rehydrate your TVP in a double or triple strength liquid, like bouillon or soup base with twice or triple the recommended amount added to the water.

Cover the TVP with the bouillon or soup mixture until it kind of sloshes around. It will absorb more liquid over time.

After the liquid has absorbed (usually 10 minutes or so) taste test it to see if the seasoning is to your liking. You can add more seasoning, or add more TVP depending on how strong it is.

Once it's at the right flavor, use your culinary skills to give it some kick. Add an egg and some breadcrumbs, and make TVP burgers or "meat"balls. Add some cumin, onion, garlic, and chili, thicken with a little starch, and you get TVP taco filling. The possibilities are endless!

BIG SECRET tip: Use a little sugar in your hydrating liquid if you are going to brown the TVP in any way, as in taco filling or patties. The sugar will help it brown (Google: Maillard Reaction) And if your dishes are tasting salty without tasting "savory" try adding a little nutritional yeast, or yeast extract.

My only complaint: this TVP is pale, like breadcrumbs. I like my TVP to have a nice dark color usually, but it all tastes the same, so not a big deal.

Can be used in so many ways- crunchy topping for desserts (think granola crunch, but no real flavor), on salads, in yogurt, use in baking, cooking, etc. If you want an easy way to add protein to your diet- this is the way to go

I've never used TVP before this, so I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I purchased this product. So far I've used one whole bag and I couldn't be happier with it. My whole family enjoys eating the food I've made with TVP instead of ground beef, and so far I haven't noticed any stomach issues in anyone, even the baby. (And though I was a little unnerved by another reviewer's comment on the smell, I didn't really notice anything more than a subtle grain scent when I put my nose in the bag.)

The first thing I did with my TVP was to take the liquid left from making a pot roast in my crockpot, skim away most of the fat, and use the liquid to rehydrate the TVP. It made a really delicious meatloaf-tasting crumble that we ate in sandwiches with ketchup. A few days later, I made a homemade spaghetti sauce with TVP simmered right in, and that turned out great too. I did notice that the TVP made the recipe just a little sweeter than it would've been, but I compensated with extra spices. I would leave the sugar out of the sauce recipe next time I make it with TVP. And last night, I rehydrated the last cup of TVP in the bag with water I'd mixed a packet of taco seasoning into. It made a very serviceable taco meat substitute for beefy taco macaroni and cheese.

Just from my one bag, one quarter of my order, I got three meals for my family, which works out to less than seventy-five cents of TVP per meal. I don't know that I'll ever try to actually make a hamburger with this, but I just love it for any recipe calling for ground beef. Instead of defrosting and cooking a pound of beef, rehydrating a cup of TVP is fast and simple. I will definitely buy this again.

First, I would like to note that this is an all soy product, so those with gluten issues should find it readily digestible. It is made from defatted soy beans, so it is also fa free - if that is an issue for you. I have used this to make sloppy joes, chili, taco filling, bbq sandwich filling, and burgers. My 74 year old mother, who never eats vegetarian, had one of the burgers and loved it. The four pack is an excellent value. Each bag provides about 12 protein servings. I have found that I get the tastiest results re-hydrating the granules with Better than Bouillon vegetable base and/or mushroom base (available here on Amazon). Tomato juice is another excellent option. The dry granules are more or less flavorless - so using a well seasoned liquid gives a much better final result. Even if you don't eat vegetarian or vegan, this is still an excellent product to use. Rehydrate one cup of granules and mix with 1 pound of ground meat and mix up as for a 2# meatloaf. But don't bake it in a loaf pan - you get a better result by making individual patties or more of a broad flat slab. Baking in a loaf format everything cooks thoroughly but tends to be too soft to be truly satisfying. There isn't a lot to say about this product except it is wholesome economical and very easy to use. If you are trying to lower your grocery bill, this is a very good option.

At first, I was a little disappointed because I misunderstood exactly what this was. I tried using it as a standalone item/mix, which you can do, but it doesn't hold together well enough for my liking.

However, it is FANTASTIC when you use it as a filler or supplement to another dish. Since it takes on the taste of whatever you're mixing it with, you can add it to just about anything and extend the life of the source material. For example, you could mix it with ground beef if you like. Personally, I've been using a Harmony Valley hamburger mix and that stuff--although about the same price as ground beef--is significantly more expensive than this. By combining the two, I've been able to extend the life of the Harmony Valley mix quite a bit and it works for everything, taco mix, burgers, chili, you name it.

Bonus: Because TVP is likely going to have better nutritional stats (less fat, more protein, perhaps more fiber), it's also likely going to make a meal a bit more nutritious! I also have to admit that I'm a huge fan of dry goods that I can buy in bulk and store for long periods of time, and this obviously fits that bill.

Word to the wise about pricing: If you plan on getting this on amazon, search around a bit because there are multiple item pages for this and some are listed cheaper than others. You can also get it directly from Bob's Red Mill (or maybe even your local store), although with shipping it's $20+.