Slow cooking a pork roast can result in rendering out some fat from the meat, but whether it creates a mess or not largely depends on the quality of the pork roast and your preparation technique.
If you are using a pork roast with a high-fat content, it's more likely to release more fat during the slow cooking process. Cheaper cuts with a lot of marbling may produce more fat than leaner cuts. This can lead to excess fat pooling in the slow cooker.
Here are some tips to minimize the mess of fat in the slow cooker:
Trim excess fat: Before cooking, you can trim off some of the visible fat from the pork roast. This will reduce the amount of fat that renders into the slow cooker.
Elevate the roast: Place the pork roast on a rack or a bed of vegetables (carrots, onions, celery, etc.) in the slow cooker. This elevates the meat, allowing the fat to drip away from the roast, and helps prevent it from sitting in its rendered fat.
Use a leaner cut: Consider using a leaner pork roast to reduce the amount of fat released during cooking.
Skim excess fat: If you notice a lot of fat accumulating in the slow cooker during the cooking process, you can use a ladle or a spoon to carefully skim off the excess fat.
Strain the cooking liquid: Once the pork roast is done, you can strain the cooking liquid through a fine mesh sieve to remove any excess fat before using it for a sauce or gravy.
Remember that some fat is essential for flavor and moisture, so you don't want to eliminate it entirely. Finding the right balance and following the tips above can help you enjoy a delicious and flavorful slow-cooked pork roast with minimal mess.