It comes in a boil-in bag and can also be microwaved. I used the boiling water method. Fifteen minutes later, I made the toast and fried an egg as a go-along. The chipped beef smelled great and except for being a bit salty, was exactly like my Mom used to make more than a half-century ago. In short, it was fabulous. The bag contains more than enough to cover four slices of toast, easily serving two with large portions. I saved half for tomorrow. I'll likely add either a pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot sauce next time. But right out of the bag, it's tasty, hearty, and chock full of nostalgia. Try some.