These tips and tricks will help you avoid common slow cooker mistakes.

1. Brown your meat before using it in your slow cooker. You’ll get much more flavor.
2. Dairy products like milk can curdle if left in your slow cooker too long. Add them toward the end of the cooking time to avoid that.
3. Thaw frozen food before using it in your slow cooker.
4. Don’t fill your slow cooker to the top! Make sure the lid can close completely. Otherwise, your food will not cook correctly.
5. Use slow cooker liners for hassle-free clean-up.
6. Try and get rid of any excess fat before cooking, because it won’t cook away or add much to your meal.
7.  Low and slow is best. To get the most flavor, opt for the low setting whenever possible.
8. Don’t touch the lid! Nothing needs to be stirred or poked. Every time you lift the lid, you’ll need to cook it longer.