Do you add sugar?

We add about ⅓ of a teaspoon of coconut sugar per bag during the cooking stage to help caramelise the onions and build flavour.

Because vegetables like tomatoes and carrots naturally contain sugars, we don’t need to add refined sugars to make Vince taste great.

Why is soy listed in the ingredients?

We don’t use highly processed soy products like TVP.

However, we do use gluten-free soy sauce, which adds depth and savoury flavour to the recipe.

What about the sodium content?

Because Vince is slowly dried, the natural sodium from the vegetables becomes more concentrated.

We also use gluten-free soy sauce which contributes some sodium.

All Vince flavours fall into the medium sodium range, and are still significantly lower than many common jarred pasta sauces or bolognese sauces.

Italian is currently our lowest sodium flavour.

Hydration & Texture

How much water should I use?

Use 1 cup (250ml) of boiling water for 100g of Vince.

A common mistake is using a large coffee mug which can hold two cups or more, resulting in Vince being too watery.

What if I’m adding Vince to beef mince?

You can prepare Vince as normal and add it to browned mince.

If you prefer a saucier finish for dishes like nachos or bolognese, simply add extra water while cooking until you reach the texture you like.

Can I prepare Vince on the stovetop or in the microwave?

Yes. For very consistent hydration you can combine Vince with water and heat it in a pan, pot or microwave for 4–5 minutes.

Add extra water depending on the texture you want for your dish.

Can I hydrate Vince with cold water?

Yes, if you need to.

Cold water will work, but it takes longer. Allow Vince to sit for several hours or overnight to fully rehydrate.

Can I eat Vince dry?

Yes. Some customers enjoy Vince dry as a snack, trail mix or lunchbox addition.

Because Vince is dried vegetables, make sure you drink plenty of water, and start with smaller amounts. One bag contains the equivalent of over 500g of vegetables, which will expand as it hydrates.

Nutrition

Does drying damage the nutrients in the vegetables?

We asked the same question.

We worked with Massey University, investing nearly $20,000 testing different drying techniques. The results showed that our drying process retains almost all nutrients.

Vitamin C is not retained because it is heat sensitive and breaks down when vegetables are cooked. This happens with most cooked vegetables.

Overall, the nutrient retention is very similar to frozen vegetables and freeze-drying methods.

Why are the vegetables dried?

Drying removes about 80% of the water from the vegetables.

This concentrates flavour and nutrients while making Vince easy to store in the pantry.

When you add water, the vegetables rehydrate and become ready to use in meals.

Is it possible to eat too much Vince?

Vince is very high in fibre, so if you are not used to a high-fibre diet it’s best to start with smaller amounts and increase gradually.

Drinking water with your meal also helps as the vegetables continue to rehydrate during digestion.

Can children eat Vince?

Yes. Vince was originally created for our own children.

Because Vince is nutrient dense and high in fibre, a small amount goes a long way.

For younger children, introduce it gradually to allow their digestion to adjust.

Due to sodium levels, Vince is not recommended for babies under 12 months.

Product & Storage

Why is Vince only 100g if it contains 500g of vegetables?

Fresh vegetables contain a lot of water.

During our slow drying process we remove most of that water, which dramatically reduces the weight while concentrating the flavour and nutrients.

Each bag of Vince starts with over 500g of fresh vegetables. When you add water back in, it rehydrates into a rich vegetable mince ready to add to meals.

Why does Vince sometimes have firmer pieces?

Because Vince is made from real vegetables, the texture can vary slightly.

Occasionally some pieces may feel a little firmer depending on the vegetable and the hydration.

If this happens, simply add a little extra water and heat it for a minute or two longer and it will soften.

Why doesn’t Vince need refrigeration?

Vince is slow air dried, which removes most of the moisture from the vegetables.

Without moisture, bacteria and mould can’t grow easily, which makes Vince shelf stable.

That’s why it can be stored in the pantry and doesn’t need refrigeration until after it has been prepared.

Is Vince freeze dried?

No. Vince is slow air dried.

This method gently removes moisture while developing deep flavour in the vegetables.

The result is a rich vegetable mince that rehydrates quickly and stores easily in the pantry.