The slow cooker is a convenient way to cook, but there's more to it than you think. Here are some pro-tips:.If you sear meat before you slow-cook it, the meat develops more complex flavors and really improves the dish.Chopping ingredients into same-size pieces helps them cook more evenly.Put vegetables like onions, carrots, and potatoes on the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the meat on top. If you're adapting your favorite recipes from the stovetop or oven to the slow cooker, decrease the liquid.Filling your slow cooker to the very top can affect how the heat penetrates the food.Don't lift the lid unless the recipe tells you to.