Seafood, including shrimp, fish, and scallops, is delicate and prone to overcooking in a slow cooker. Unlike tougher cuts of meat, seafood doesn’t benefit from hours of simmering—it becomes rubbery and loses its appeal.
What Happens: Shrimp shrivels up, fish flakes apart excessively, and scallops lose their tender bite.
Solution: Add seafood only during the final hour of cooking. For dishes like chowders or stews, wait until the very end to incorporate these ingredients.
3. Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and cilantro are vibrant additions to any dish, but they don’t fare well in a slow cooker. Their delicate flavors dissipate or turn bitter after hours of exposure to low heat.
What Happens: The dish retains too much raw alcohol flavor, which can overpower other ingredients.
Solution: Cook alcohol separately on the stovetop first to reduce and concentrate its flavor, then add it to the slow cooker later in the process.
5. Lean Meats (Without Moisture)
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