Originally Posted by
SteveinMN
I'm afraid my bit of wisdom is to use it only for those few things (generally single-ingredient dishes) that it does well.
I love the convenience of a crock pot/slow cooker. But, over the years, I've tired of meals that aren't cooked that well because some ingredients need more time than others (so some naturally get overcooked) and of meals that basically start tasting the same to me.
Put a chicken into a slow cooker, switch it on, and walk away? Winner! Make beans in one (from scratch)? Love them that way. Tex-Mex Beef Casserole or Pork Chops with Cabbage? No thanks. The texture suffers too much for me to enjoy eating those kinds of dishes.