The easy fix: Never fill your slow cooker more than two-thirds of the way full. If you're typically serving a crowd or making recipes with four or more servings, like Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast, a six- to eight-quart slow cooker will be large enough that you won't need to worry about overcrowding.

Most Southerners are a little bit in love with their slow cookers. The small appliances have an honored spot at holiday meals, they come along to tailgates, and when filled with hot appetizers, they are the life of the party.

The Cooking Mom has the perfect recipe for slow cooker stuffing. Don't put your turkey in the oven without double checking this. Store-bought stocks can be helpful timesavers for soups and sauces, but one brand that may seem like an okay bet is actually one of the unhealthiest.