c/easy-slow-cooker-meals

Rant: I was adding the chicken broth at the beginning for years until my cousin pointed out it makes everything taste like boiled socks.

Now I just use a cup of water for the cook and stir in a carton of that good bone broth from the store in the last 30 minutes, which totally fixed my bland stew problem, so has anyone else found a simple swap that saved a go-to recipe?

My $20 slow cooker liner experiment turned into a kitchen horror show

Okay, so I saw those slow cooker liners at the store and thought, 'Hey, that's a genius idea, no cleanup!' I bought a box for about twenty bucks. Last Tuesday, I was making my usual pot roast with carrots and potatoes. I put the liner in, added everything, and set it on low for eight hours. About four hours in, I walked into the kitchen and the whole thing SMELLED like melting plastic. I lifted the lid, and the liner had somehow folded over into the food and was melting into the gravy. The whole meal was ruined. I had to throw it all out and order pizza, which cost another thirty dollars. Has anyone else tried these liners and had a better result, or should I just stick to scrubbing the pot?

I used to brown all my meat before the slow cooker, but I finally gave it up

For years, I'd spend an extra 20 minutes searing every piece of beef or pork in a hot pan before it went into the pot. I read it in a cookbook once and just stuck with it, thinking it was the only way to get good flavor. Then, about three months ago, I was running late for work and just dumped a 3-pound chuck roast straight in with the veggies and broth. When I got home, the house smelled amazing and the meat was just as tender and tasty as always. I honestly couldn't tell the difference. Now I skip that step every single time unless I'm feeling fancy on a weekend. It saves me so much time and cleanup. Has anyone else found a slow cooker step they used to do that you now think is pointless?

Finally got my 3-year-old to eat something green from the slow cooker

Last week, after three years of trying, my kid actually ate the spinach I hid in a slow cooker lasagna. I used the recipe from the 'Slow Cooker Family Favorites' blog, doubling the ricotta and adding an extra layer of the chopped spinach. He ate two full pieces without a single complaint. I almost couldn't believe it. Has anyone else found a sneaky veggie that works in a slow cooker dish?

Honestly, I used to think you had to brown meat first for a good slow cooker stew. My last two pots proved me wrong.

Debate in my kitchen: do you really need to brown meat first?

My partner insists you have to sear every roast or chicken before it goes in the slow cooker for better flavor (and he might be right, I guess). But I'm the lazy one who just dumps everything in raw, and honestly, my family never complains. It saves so much time and dirty pans. I'm curious where everyone else stands on this extra step.

Rant: My wake-up call on cheap chicken for slow cooker meals

I used to buy any chicken on sale for my slow cooker dishes. After learning about how some farms treat animals, I only get free-range now. But is paying more really the right choice?