The best fuel pastes, compared.
Top pick: ZSP ethanol chafing gel, 12 pack – Highest star score at 94, from 4.7 and 877 reviews, on a 12-can pack that names ethanol. Best value: Sterling Saver chafing gel, 6 pack – About £11.95 for six cans that name ethanol, a lower pack price than the 12-can set, with a thin review sample. Updated 22.10.2026.
Fuel paste in UK shops is a gelled burner fuel in a small fondue pot or a larger chafing can. You buy it for fondue, or to hold food over a chafing dish or bain-marie. A sound tin names the fuel on the label, often ethanol on a consumer can. If the label does not name the fuel, do not treat the gel as ethanol. Methanol gel for caterers is a different product and is not for food that meets the flame. The pot or can has to fit the holder you own. A parcel measurement is not the can. A claimed burn of about 45–60 minutes suits a fondue pot, and about 2.5–3.5 hours suits a chafing can. The gel is still a naked flame and can produce carbon monoxide. Ventilation and an alarm marked BS EN 50291 matter more than an odourless line. The same checks are in the [fuel paste buying guide](/hub/diy-supplies/fuel-paste/sub/fuel-paste-buying-guide).
Fuel paste in UK shops is a gelled burner fuel in a small fondue pot or a larger chafing can. You buy it for fondue, or to hold food over a chafing dish or bain-marie.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What holder are you filling?
The ZSP ethanol chafing gel is a 12-can pack at about £16.45 on amazon.co.uk, with a claimed burn of 3.5 hours a can. Across 877 reviews it sits at 4.7, the highest star line in this set, which is why it is the top pick when you want named ethanol under a chafing dish rather than a fondue pot. Captured reviews include cans that ran about that long or longer, and cans that finished early, including in wind. The listing says the gel is smoke and odour free and suitable for indoor use, yet one review describes a strong odour. One home-dinner review says a carbon monoxide alarm sounded after about an hour and the cans were put out. The printed 17.15 cm and 3.09 kg figures are the parcel, not one can, and the can diameter is not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A chafing dish or buffet where you want named ethanol in a 12-can pack and you will ventilate the room.
Less suitable: A small fondue burner, a closed room, or anyone who needs a printed can diameter before the cans arrive.
Specifications
Common questions
What fuel does the listing name?
The title says ethanol. The same listing calls the gel non-toxic and suitable for indoor use. Those lines are the seller’s claims, and one review describes a strong odour.
How long is it supposed to burn?
The listing says 3.5 hours. In the captured reviews some cans ran about that long or longer, and some finished early, including in wind.
Did any review mention a carbon monoxide alarm?
Yes. One UK review of a home dinner says the alarm sounded after about an hour and the cans were put out. The listing does not answer whether the gel is safe around children.
The Till Brennpaste listing is fondue gel in pots of about 9 cm, at about £13.00, with a claimed minimum of 45–60 minutes per 80 g. Across 2,206 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.5, the largest sample in this set, and reviewers often say a pot fits a Le Creuset or a similar fondue burner. Some pots finished in about 30 minutes, while others still had gel after the meal. Reviewers also say the flame is too hot for cheese or chocolate and suits an oil fondue better. The title says 6 x 80 g, two pack, while other fields on the same listing say 54 pieces and 6 packs, so the quantity is not settled. This ASIN does not name the fuel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A household fondue if you accept an unsettled pack count and a flame some reviewers find too hot for cheese.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a named fuel or a known pot count, or a cheese fondue that scorches on a strong flame.
Specifications
Common questions
How many pots are in the box?
The title says 6 x 80 g pots, two pack, and the bullets say each pack is 3 x 80 g. Other fields on the same listing say 54 pieces and 6 packs. The stored file does not settle the count.
How long does one pot burn?
The listing claims a minimum of 45–60 minutes for an 80 g pack. Captured reviews include a pot that finished in about 30 minutes and others with fuel left after a meal.
Is it too hot for cheese?
Some reviewers say it is, and that it suits an oil fondue better than cheese or chocolate. The listing claims no smoke and no smell. It does not mention a safety lid.
The Sterling Saver pack is six ethanol gel cans at about £11.95, with a claimed burn of 210 minutes each, listed for chafing dishes and bain-maries. Across 34 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.4, a thin sample beside the 12-can pack. The material line names ethanol and the bullets say the gel burns without a noticeable odour. One reviewer expected 12 cans and received 6, which matches the title, and others report dented cans or a can that was too big for the holder. Several reviews were written before the cans were used, and one return went without a seller reply. Can diameter, a safety lid, and reuse are not in the technical details. At this shelf price it is the best value among the named ethanol packs, if six cans and a small review file are enough.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short buffet where you want named ethanol at a lower pack price and you will check the can against the frame.
Less suitable: A fondue pot, or a buyer who wants a large review sample or a printed can diameter.
Specifications
Common questions
How many cans should arrive?
The title and bullets say six cans, each with a 210 minute claim. One reviewer expected 12 and received 6.
What fuel is named?
The material line says ethanol, and the bullets say the gel burns without a noticeable odour. Can diameter, a safety lid, and reuse are not in the technical details.
What did reviewers complain about?
Dented cans, a size that was too big for one setup, and a return on which the seller did not reply. Several reviews were written before the cans were used.
The METRO listing is a single 200 g fuel gel can at about £3.57, about 85 mm across and 52 mm high. The title says 3 hours and a bullet says about 2.5 hours, so the burn claim is not one figure. Across 15 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.4, and the only review text in the saved listing is marked as reviewed in Germany and describes smoking rather than a chafing dish. The fuel itself is not named. Indoor use, a lid, and odour are asked on the listing and not answered. At about £3.57 it is the cheapest tin here, but an unnamed fuel and a conflicting hour claim keep it off the best-value slot. Treat the 85 mm figure as a size check against your holder, not as a settled ethanol can.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A size check against an 85 mm holder, if you will read the hazard label on the tin.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs named ethanol, a UK review sample, or a fondue pot rather than a chafing can.
Specifications
Common questions
How long does the listing say it burns?
The title says 3 hours. The bullet says approximately 2.5 hours. Both figures are on the same amazon.co.uk listing.
What size is the can?
The listing gives a diameter of 85 mm and a height of 52 mm, with an item weight of 240 g for a 200 g fill. The fuel itself is not named.
Are the captured reviews from the UK?
The only review text in the saved listing is marked Reviewed in Germany and describes smoking, not a chafing dish. Indoor use, a lid, and odour are asked on the listing and not answered.
Shelf prices, stars and review notes are the amazon.co.uk figures already stored for these four listings. The gels were not burned for this page. The published score is the star rating times 20, so 4.7 is 94, 4.5 is 90 and 4.4 is 88. Review count is not added. A thin sample is written in the assessment and is not subtracted. Pack conflicts, an unnamed fuel and a carbon monoxide alarm report stay in the assessment. They do not change the star map. Price per can is not a safety score. The top pick is the highest score, once. Best value is a different listing: six named ethanol cans at about £11.95. The fondue listing is cheaper on the shelf, but the pack fields conflict and the fuel is not named. The single can at about £3.57 also scores 88 and is not best value.
Amazon star score
100%The number on each row is the stored amazon.co.uk rating times 20. A rating of 4.7 is 94, 4.5 is 90 and 4.4 is 88. Review count is not added. A thin sample stays in the written assessment. Pack conflicts, an unnamed fuel and the carbon monoxide alarm report are not taken off the star score.
Match the tin to the holder, then read the fuel name. The four amazon.co.uk listings stored for this page run from about £3.57 to about £16.45. The top pick is the 12-can ethanol pack for a chafing dish, if you will ventilate. Best value is six named ethanol cans at a lower pack price, with a much smaller review sample. The fondue pots suit a table burner, and the pack count on that listing conflicts. The cheapest can does not name the fuel.
Fuel paste, in UK shops, is a gelled burner fuel in a small fondue pot or a larger chafing can. Household buyers use it a few times a year for cheese or meat fondue and for a Christmas buffet. Caterers use similar cans for a short service. It is not liquid wick fuel, and it is not the bioethanol poured into a table burner. A gel that does not name its fuel is not automatically ethanol. Two formats cover most household jobs. Fondue paste comes in small pots, often 80–95 g, for one meal.
An odour-free line is the seller's claim. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless. One home-dinner review reports an alarm after about an hour. Ventilate, and use an alarm marked BS EN 50291.
A parcel cube and a parcel weight are not the pot or the can. Measure the holder. The 12-can and six-can listings do not print a can diameter.
If the tin does not name the fuel, do not call it ethanol. Methanol gel for caterers is restricted to professional use and is not for food that meets the flame. Do not add another fuel to dried gel.
The first check is the job. An 80 g fondue pot, often about 9 cm, is a different tin from a chafing can with a multi-hour claim. A buffet can that is too big for the frame is a repeated review complaint. Then read the fuel name. Two listings in this set name ethanol. Two do not, and an unnamed tin is not ethanol by default. Methanol gel sold to UK caterers is a separate product, toxic if swallowed, and not for food that meets the flame. Fit is the holder you own, not the parcel.
Treat hours as the maker's estimate. A fondue pot is often claimed at 45–60 minutes, and a chafing can at about 2.5–3.5 hours. Reviews in this set both beat and miss those figures. Wind, a dried pot and a wide flame shorten a claim. Read the pack line next to the stars. The fondue listing is 4.5 from 2,206 reviews at about £13.00, and its pack fields disagree, so the pot count is not stated here. The 12-can pack is 4.7 from 877 reviews. The six-can pack is 4.4 from 34.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want named ethanol under a chafing dish and the highest star line. The ZSP 12-pack is the top pick at about £16.45, 4.7 from 877 reviews, with a 3.5 hour claim. The can diameter is not printed, the parcel size is not the can, and one review reports a carbon monoxide alarm. Ventilate the room.
You have a fondue burner of about 9 cm and you want the largest review sample. The Till pots are about £13.00, 4.5 from 2,206 reviews, with a claimed 45–60 minutes per 80 g. The pack count conflicts, the fuel is not named, and some reviewers find the flame too hot for cheese or chocolate.
You want named ethanol at a lower pack price than the 12-can set. The Sterling Saver six-pack is best value at about £11.95, 4.4 from 34 reviews, with a 210 minute claim for a chafing dish or bain-marie. Several reviews were written before first use, and the can diameter is not stated.
The top pick is the ZSP ethanol chafing gel, 12 pack, at about £16.45. It scores 94, from 4.7 and 877 reviews, the highest star line here, and the listing names ethanol with a 3.5 hour claim for a chafing dish. A carbon monoxide alarm in one home-dinner review, early finishes, and a parcel size that is not the can stay in the assessment. Best value is the Sterling Saver six-pack at about £11.95, score 88, six named ethanol cans with a 210 minute claim and only 34 reviews. The Till fondue pots score 90 from a larger sample, but the pack count conflicts and the fuel is not named. The METRO can at about £3.57 is cheaper and is not best value.
ZSP ethanol chafing gel, 12 pack
Highest star score at 94, from 4.7 and 877 reviews, on a 12-can pack that names ethanol.
Sterling Saver chafing gel, 6 pack
About £11.95 for six cans that name ethanol, a lower pack price than the 12-can set, with a thin review sample.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Updated 22.10.2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures already stored for this set. This is not a laboratory test.
