Basics

A type of Fuel Burner specialized for heating Food in Catering Equipment
- Also has niche use as Camping Stoves or Indoor Use Safe Heating/Cooking in Emergencies
Electricity is a good alternative (Such as “Crock Pots” etc), or Steam Wells but for low cost temporary instillations such as catering my, it is a useful tech
The names “Sterno” and “Canned Heat” are Genericized Trademarks of this

Fuels

Chafing Fuel is typically offered on various burn times (measured in hours), as well as different fuel (and this heat/safety) options
Alcohol Gel is the most common
- Typically a mixture of Denatured Alcohol and Calcium Acetate (although other Gelling Agents may be used
Due to the risk of Spills (of a flammable liquid!), recently alternatives are offered as well
These tend to have less heat output as Alcohol (or better yet Butane or Propane or a Hydrocarbon (Oil) Based Fuel), but are safer, albeit harder to light
One such option is Ethylene Glycol
- This is also sometimes mixed with Diethylene Glycol , it is uncertain if this is an intentional mix, or if this is simply a result of synthesis, and as it is Fuel Grade, not Lab Chemical or USP Food Grade etc, this may be fine

This part aims to determine what brand is the lowest cost per can (controlling for burn times/quality ideally too)