I use the crock pot all the time. Have for YEARS! I break a few "rules" as well and have had success but will not tell those at first ...

For pot roast i use a cheap cut the cheaper the better in my book. be sure it has fat in it and I prefer it not to have bones. If it seems to be very lean cut it up a bit more so that it gets more "roasting". Chuck roast if you wnat a ame. If it is too akward in size for the pot give it a cut and jam it on in there (can you see how precise you need to be?)

I place about 1/2 cup water in the bottom.
sprinkle with about 1/2 pack of lipton onion soup ( I know the seventies revisited!!)
now I cut potaotes in 1/2 and place on roast I am carful not to face the cut half face down on roast as that makes em "mushy" I like the ones facing the side of the crock the best!
Now put in some cleaned carrot chunks.
maybe an extra onion cuncked up too
sprinkle the rest of the lipton onion mix or (even yet another package)
turn on high (mine is a rival crock pot 5 qts) leave for the day and it is GREAT!!
enjoy ...
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