Abstract: An article of cookware has an interior cooking surface that with raised linear or curvilinear bands with an outer layer of a first material that is one of ceramic or metallic in nature to provide cut and abrasion resistance. Valleys or grooves between the raised bands have an outer layer of a second material with low surface energy to facilitate food release and cleaning of debris. The bands are arranged to protect the second material from cutting and abrasion that would damage the second material. The bands aid in enhancing distribution of cooking oil to enhance searing and browning of foods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an essential oil extraction apparatus. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a container configured to hold an essential oil-containing material, an essential oil extract receiver contained in the container, a condenser having an outlet fluidly coupled to the receiver and located relative to the container so as to receive essential oil-containing vapor emitted by the essential oil-containing material; and at least one microwave reflection structure associated with at least one of the container, the receiver or the condenser. The apparatus can have an overall dimension that is sufficiently small so that the apparatus fits inside a standard-sized kitchen microwave oven.