There’s nothing better after a hard day’s work than coming home to a comforting stew, casserole or soup bubbling away with that delicious home cooked aroma.

Ready meals never live up to expectations, with meagre portions, an imbalance of ingredients and an artificial taste. But if you find that you struggle for time to create home prepared food or you’re just too tired at the end of the day investing in a slow cooker could be the best thing you’ve ever done.

I recently purchased a stainless steel appliance with a ceramic bowl from my local superstore for less than $30 (£20) and I’m amazed at just how easy it is to use and the variety of tasty dinner time treats that can be rustled up.

The slow cooking process works magic on cheap or tough cuts of meat, and flavours from herbs and spices will infuse into potatoes and vegetables beautifully by the time your dish is served, as long as you use enough of them.

You can also experiment with pulses such as pui lentils and pearl barley to create delicious rustic style broths that will warm the heart and remain kind to the waistline. It’s even easy to prepare a tasty tomato based pasta sauce in your slow cooker and all you’ll have to do at dinner time is boil up some spaghetti and grate some Parmesan cheese.

You’ll find that home cooked food is not only tastier and better for you but you’ll also save money by buying fresh ingredients as opposed to ready meals – a great bonus in this financial climate.

While looking for a new slow cooker, I found some units that came with mini slow cookers. Heating up dips for entertaining immediately sprung to my mind. This is a handy appliance to have if you are cooking for one or two people. The $25 price tag leaves much to be desired. For this price, you can by a 4-qt. unit. I think I’ll wait until my Rival dies.

I’ve had my 5-quart Rival slow cooker for over ten years and have enjoyed cooking with it. However, it is beginning to show its age. Last month, I set something to cook before I went to work. When I arrived home, I found my meal slightly scorched and a bit watery. I’ve since shelved my slow cooker and use it only for weekend cooking, when I know that I can be there to monitor the food.

The first brand I looked at was Rival, since I’d had good luck with my model up to this point. I was disappointed when I read many reviews from people who’d experienced the same thing with newer models. This made me look at other models.

At Christmas time, I was drooling over the KitchenAid mixer stand, which I never did buy due to limited counter space. Now, I have my sights on their 7-quart slow cooker. It has an oblong shape, which is perfect for slow cooking ribs, pot roasts or whole chickens. Even better, it has a computerized temperature sensor that will force the appliance to shut off. You can also program it to cook on a low or high setting for up to 10 hours.

As my boys grow older, I’ll need a bigger pot to accommodate their appetites. Amazon reviewers said that this slow cooker is huge.

The only downside is the price. Then again, if the KitchenAid slow cooker lasts as long as my Rival, I’ll consider it a great investment. You can get it on Amazon for $130 right now, or hunt for a better bargain elsewhere.