We’re living in a golden age of small kitchen appliances (see: slow cookers, Instant Pots, and air fryers). We’re also in a not-so-golden age of abundant counter space. So what’s a home cook to do?

An Instant Pot surrounding by bowls of ingredients ready to go in the slow cooker - Qwart/Getty Images ...

It is easy to learn how to use an Instant Pot, and don’t let all its buttons intimidate you. It is a versatile kitchen ...

To see how the two very different products compare I prepared the same foods using like-to-like functions provided by the Our Place Dream Cooker and the Instant Pot Pro 6 Qt. Over the course of a week ...