Chafing dish fuel gel is a specialized, high-viscosity heating medium designed primarily for the hospitality and catering industries to keep food at food-safe temperatures during buffet-style service. Typically composed of ethanol or methanol thickened into a jelly-like consistency, this fuel is prized for its "spill-proof" nature; if a canister is accidentally overturned, the gel remains contained rather than spreading a flammable liquid.