Fall is one of the best times of year to break out the slow cooker. The air is chillier, the days are shorter, and, it seems, so is the amount of time we have to spend on cooking. The next time you experiment with cooking your favorite meals in the crockpot, be sure to heed these tips to make sure everything comes out just right!

Leave some room.
Especially if you’re cooking large pieces of meat, it’s a good idea to only fill up your slow cooker two-thirds of the way full. You don’t want to come home to undercooked meat and an overflowing pot!

Hold off on the dairy.
If the recipe calls for milk or cheese, wait to add these items until the last hour or so of cooking. Heating up dairy over long periods of time tends to cause curdling—which could ruin the whole meal.

It does drinks, too.
Have you ever thought about using your slow cooker for a heart-warming cup of hot cocoa or coffee? Chilly days are a great opportunity to make big batches of warm drinks you can sip on all day, or have at the ready when company comes.

Double the fun.
If you only have one slow cooker, there’s still a way to heat up multiple dishes at once! Divide the pot into compartments with pieces of foil and helpful slow cooker specific bags (which you can buy at the supermarket).