Do you have to brown chicken before putting it in a slow-cooker?

[phineas]

Hi,
I've been looking for slow-cooker recipes and they say to brown chicken in a frying pan before putting it in a slow cooker.

Why do you have to do this? Do you actually have to do it?
Do you do it every time?

[chefalicious]

to seal in the juices/blood?

i find chicken tends to give off a frothy top while its cooking in a slow cooker....

and besides that all meat should be sealed to do the above.....better flavour and tenderness:)


hehe just saw the poll.... i voted sometimes..... cause sometimes im lazy

[SorenLorensen]

i don't.

only becuase that would defeat the purpose of why i use my slow cooker.
i like to just chuck everything in of a morning and not have to think or do anything for the rest of the day. if i had to brown the chicken or meat first then i would have to get a pan, turn on the stove, get my tongs, stand there and turn it.......etc. then to top it off i would have to clean it all after....:dizzy:

nah, cant be bothered. to me my slow cooker is my lazy cooker :D

[SilverStarfish]

Sometimes I might - gives the chicken a little colour - but you certainly don't NEED to do it for any sort of food safety reason.

[QTB]

i don't.

only becuase that would defeat the purpose of why i use my slow cooker.
i like to just chuck everything in of a morning and not have to think or do anything for the rest of the day. if i had to brown the chicken or meat first then i would have to get a pan, turn on the stove, get my tongs, stand there and turn it.......etc. then to top it off i would have to clean it all after....:dizzy:

nah, cant be bothered. to me my slow cooker is my lazy cooker :D

yep! i agree! lol im too lazy to bother with that, i just chuck it all in and turn it on :D

[~Emmylou~]

I don't - I rub it with either french onion soup mix, or morroccan seasoning and it goes a nice golden colour without mucking around browning it beforehand.

[Rachael]

To me the point of a slow cooker is you throw everyhing in and turn it one then it is cooked! No precooking for my slowcooker lol :rofl:

[Jenko]

I always do it, i thought you had to. I agree it is a bit of a pain...and more time, effort and washing up.

Now I know all you guys don't do it, i might give that step a miss next time ;)