Cooktops for Sale in Madison and Janesville, Wisconsin

A cooktop is a standalone cooking surface that drops into your countertop, freeing up the space below for cabinetry or a separate wall oven. Cooktops let you place cooking and baking wherever they work best in a kitchen layout, and they come in gas, electric radiant, and induction versions, most commonly in 30 and 36-inch widths. Burner count, power output, and surface material are the details that shape everyday cooking.

Brothers Main stocks cooktops from leading appliance brands at our Madison and Janesville showrooms. Pair one with a wall oven from our cooking collection to build a kitchen around your exact workflow.

Shop Cooktops by Type

The biggest decision with a cooktop is how it generates heat. Each type has a distinct feel and a different set of strengths.

Gas Cooktops

Using an open flame with sealed burners that contain spills for easier cleanup, gas cooktops often include heavy, continuous grates that let cookware slide between burners. Flame size adjusts instantly and is easy to read at a glance, which is why many experienced cooks favor them for sauteing and searing. Output ranges from gentle simmer burners to high-BTU power burners for fast boiling, and the cooktop connects to a gas line.

Electric Cooktops

Smooth glass-ceramic surfaces with radiant heating elements underneath give these cooktops a flat, seamless top that wipes clean in seconds. Heat is steady and quiet, and the flush design pairs well with contemporary kitchens. Electric cooktops are installed with a dedicated electrical circuit and suit cooks who want a low-maintenance surface.

Induction Cooktops

Using magnetic energy to heat cookware directly rather than warming the surface itself, induction cooktops boil water faster, respond instantly to setting changes, and stay cool to the touch around the pan. They are the most energy-efficient option and the easiest to clean, since spills do not bake onto a hot surface. These require induction cooktop-compatible cookware​ , such as cast iron or magnetic stainless steel.

Cooktop Features for Wisconsin Homeowners to Consider

Beyond fuel type, a few features distinguish one cooktop from another and are worth weighing against how you cook.

• Burner Configuration: Layouts vary from compact four-burner designs to five-burner cooktops with dedicated power and simmer zones, plus bridge elements that link two burners for a griddle or long pan.
• Control Type: Knobs give tactile, at-a-glance adjustment and a classic look, while flush touch controls wipe clean easily and suit a minimalist surface.
• Continuous Grate: Connected cast iron grates span the surface so heavy pots move from burner to burner without lifting.
• Down Draft: An integrated retractable vent draws smoke and steam down and outside, a strong solution for island cooktops or kitchens without an overhead hood.
• WiFi Connectivity: Smart cooktops with WiFi connectivity let you monitor settings and control the surface from a connected app on select models.

Shop Cooktops by Brand

Cooktop brands differ in burner engineering, surface design, and the depth of their induction lineups. These are the names our Wisconsin shoppers search for most.

• Bosch: German-engineered cooktops known for quiet operation, clean minimalist design, and one of the strongest induction selections in the category, a fit for buyers who value precision and a refined look.
• KitchenAid: Versatile gas and electric cooktops with flexible burner layouts and durable continuous grates, a solid match for cooks who want range and reliability in one surface.
• GE Appliances: A broad, accessible lineup spanning gas, electric, and induction, making it a dependable starting point for most kitchen budgets and layouts.

For premium induction and professional gas cooktops, our showrooms also carry luxury options from brands like Thermador. Stop in to feel the difference in burner control firsthand.

Why Shop Cooktops at Brothers Main

Buying a cooktop is easier when you can see and compare the surfaces in one place, and our showrooms put the brands you are cross-shopping side by side in a relaxed space built for browsing, not a warehouse rush. You get national-brand selection without the big-box overwhelm. Here is what makes the difference:

• A curated lineup of gas, electric, and induction surfaces you can compare in person, with straight answers on availability and delivery timing.
• A single local team that coordinates your purchase and delivery, so you are not handed off to an outside contractor or a call center.
• Knowledgeable specialists who explain the tradeoffs in plain terms and never steer you toward whatever happens to be on sale.

From a first kitchen to a full remodel, that combination of choice, coordination, and expertise is tough to match at a chain store or an online-only seller. As a family-owned Wisconsin retailer since 1938, we want you to be confident in the cooktop you choose.

Find Your Cooktop at Brothers Main

Since a cooktop usually shares a kitchen with a separate wall oven, it pays to plan both with someone who can see your layout. While you are at it, pair your new surface with the right cooktop ventilation hoods to keep smoke and steam under control. Visit one of our appliance showrooms in Wisconsin or contact us to compare surfaces and find the right fit.

 

Frequently Asked Questions: Cooktops

Is a gas or induction cooktop better?

Gas cooktops offer instant visible flame control and work with any cookware, which many cooks prefer for stovetop technique. Induction cooktops heat faster, hold precise temperatures, use less energy, and stay cool around the pan for safety and easy cleanup, but they require magnetic cookware. If efficiency, speed, and cleaning matter most, induction wins, and if you want flame and cookware flexibility, gas is the pick.

What pans work with an induction cooktop​?

Induction works only with magnetic cookware, such as cast iron, enameled cast iron, and many stainless steel pans. A quick test is to hold a magnet to the bottom of a pan: if it sticks firmly, the pan will work on induction. Aluminum, copper, and glass cookware will not heat up unless they have a magnetic base layer.

What size cooktop do I need?

Cooktops are most commonly 30 or 36 inches wide. A 30 inch cooktop fits standard cabinet layouts and typically offers four to five burners, while a 36 inch cooktop adds surface space and often a fifth burner or a wider bridge zone for large cookware. Measure your existing cutout and surrounding clearances before you shop, and our team can confirm the fit.

Can I install a cooktop myself?

A cooktop drops into a countertop cutout, but the surrounding work is specialized. Gas models need a proper gas line connection, and electric and induction models need a dedicated circuit, and the cutout itself must match the unit. Brothers Main delivers and makes basic connections, and we recommend a licensed professional for gas, electrical, and any cabinetry or countertop modifications.

Which brands offer the most durable ceramic stove tops?

Ceramic (smoothtop) durability comes down to the quality of the glass-ceramic surface and how the edges and elements are built, more than any single brand claim. Several trusted brands make dependable ceramic cooktops, including Whirlpool, which offers durable glass surfaces at accessible price points. To keep any ceramic top in good shape, use flat-bottomed cookware, avoid sliding heavy pots, and wipe spills once the surface cools.