Slow Cooking - browning meat first??

[Pandora]

Sorry I am sure this has been asked and answered but I'm at work and dont have time to go thru and search...

Where the recipe says to brown the meat (in this case chicken) first - is this really necessary?

Has anyone tried it without browning the meat first and still had the dish come out properly cooked?

Do I need to adjust the cooking time (8hrs on low is suggested with the meat browned..)

[~Raven~]

The meat will come out cooked fine if you don't brown it but I find it has a better flavour if I do.

[saslia]

I sometimes do and sometimes don't - mainly depending on time. The meat stays together a bit better if you have browned it first.

[bon]

I don't bother usually, and the meat cooks fine - you don't need to adjust cooking time.

[Rachel]

i find if you don't brown the meat, it comes out looking odd and not that appetising..depending on what you are cooking of course...i cooked a chicken without browning first and it came out white,which looked a bit strange as when i usually cooked it it came out brown!

[Bloom]

I never brown my meat as I am lazy! Curries, stews, mexican meals... all turn out fine for me. But I do always add lots of spices, herbs etc for flavour.

[Pandora]

ok I browned it a bit, well I seared it, i think that's the same?
Anyway its cooking as we speak so I will find out tonight how it turned out.