Remove skin from poultry, and trim excess fat from meats. Fats will melt
with long cooking times, and will add an unpleasant texture to the finished
dish. Fatty foods will also cook too quickly.
Large pieces of meat can be browned before cooking in the crockpot, but
this step isn't necessary. Browning adds color and helps in flavor
development.
Dairy products should be added during the last 30 minutes of cooking
time, unless the recipes states otherwise.
