A crockpot question, why do recipes call for browned meat?

No it just sears in the juices for better flavor :-)

I think it's to hold in the juices.  My mom always sears/browns the meat and I never do.  LOL.  It drives her crazy :o)

Oh I see. This might explain why mine comes out so dry.

Quoting msparks80:

No it just sears in the juices for better flavor :-)

I don't like using the extra skillet and then having to wash it. But I guess if it does hold in the juices, maybe I should. 

Quoting momof6nokc:

I think it's to hold in the juices.  My mom always sears/browns the meat and I never do.  LOL.  It drives her crazy :o)

The only time I brown is for pot roast.

Quoting Bmat:

Oh I see. This might explain why mine comes out so dry.

Quoting msparks80:

No it just sears in the juices for better flavor :-)

Browning seals in the juices and the crust you get is flavor. Also it takes a long time for the criock pot to heat up. So the raw meat sits in there at least 2 hours till it gets hot enough. Browning starts the cooking process so know one gets sick. My friends mom part boils her chicken before putting it in the crock pot. She is afraid of getting salmanila.

You can also brown meat in advance and freeze it for future uses like in the crock pot or taco meat etc.

When you brown the meat, don't let it sit on the same spot for too long. That will cook the meat instead if just browning. Once the meat is seared / browned, let it say on the same skillet for at least 5 minutes ( 15-20 is ideal) ( remember to place the skillet away from heat.) Never place the meat on wood etc surface. That will make it dry. Keeping it on the same skillet makes the juices absorbe well and result in tender juicy meat.

It also makes for a tastier gravy.

When you make something in the crock pot, do you use broth or water? Some people just use water, but I normally make sure to use plenty of broth, it doesn't come out dry for me. Maybe you could try that rather than browning the meat if you haven't already? I don't brown the meat either, I didn't know why they say to do it and I didn't want to dirty an extra pan either lol :)