Most slow-cooker recipes call for putting all the raw ingredients into the pot to cook for hours without requiring any attention. While this saves lots of time, it can compromise flavor. By taking just 15 minutes to brown meats and sauté vegetables, your dishes will be bursting with flavor, though little extra time is spent in preparation.
Additionally many recipes not designated for crock pot cooking can benefit from this process, such as soup, chili, and stew.