Slow cooker query

[MrsCollinssettled]

I've been given a slow cooker and keen to use it for weekday meals. My query is that most of the recipes take 8 hours max and we are out of the house for at least 10 hours. I could put it on a timer but am worried about leaving raw/partially cooked items in the slow cooker for a couple of hours before the timer starts it cooking.

Is this an issue and if so how do you overcome it?

It'll be fine, just might have gone a bit mushier than you'd like. The beauty of a slow cooker is that is doesn't go dry.