In addition, cooking on a high temperature for a long duration could cause your slow cooker to get too hot — causing permanent damage to the appliance. 

If necessary, experts advise cooking on a high setting just for the first hour of cooking time before turning it down to low for the rest of the process. This will ensure you get that succulent and juicy texture from meals, without overcooking. 

High settings are only preferable for appliances like the best air fryers to ensure that crispy texture of foods.  

3. Not searing your meat first 

Another common mistake is not searing meat before adding it to the slow cooker — especially if you enjoy cooking hearty, delicious stews.

The process of searing/browning meat will lock in the juices to allow maximum flavor during the slow-cooked process. There are some slow cookers with a sear function to sear directly into the pot like some of the multicookers, but if not, get out that frying pan for those rich, tasty flavors.  

4. Overfilling the cooker 

Whether you’re cooking a large, family meal or batch-cooking for the week, make sure you don’t overfill your slow cooker. The key to its method of producing tender, succulent results is having the right amount of liquid to the right quantity of food. 

So, the more food you pack it with, the less effective it will be to circulate the heat properly — ending up with disappointing meals. Ideally, you should never fill the machine more than three-quarters full for recipes. 

5. Not layering foods properly 

While it might seem simple enough to throw in your ingredients and liquid to slow cook, there is a method to the process. Layering the right way will allow foods to cook properly, and ensure full, rich flavors. 

Experts advise that the slowest cooking items should be placed at the bottom, such as raw vegetables, followed by meats and the delicate items at the top. This method will ensure that every ingredient gets the right levels of heat to cook properly in the given time.

6.  Not adding the right amount of liquid 

This is another common slow cooker mistake — and could make all the difference to your meals. If you add too little water, your meals will turn out dry and overcooked, while too much will literally drown your recipes or taste under-seasoned (and underwhelming!).

Slow cooker manufacturers recommend you should add liquid to fill the cookware about ½ to ¾ full. Alternatives to plain water include broth/stock, wine, or even juice, just make sure meat is fully covered in liquid, and kept on the low setting. 

7. Lifting the lid to take a peek 

Although it may be tempting to peek at your culinary delights to see how it’s going, this is a no-no — and should be avoided. This is because slow cookers work effectively sealing in heat in order to cook food over a long period of time. So, each time you lift up the lid, the slow cooker loses a lot of heat — which takes a while to get it back. 

If you do need to open the lid, keep it brief as possible. Most cookers come with glass lids to easily see inside, but if not, patience is a virtue, when it comes to slow cooking!

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