Sterno is a brand of jellied, denatured alcohol that is sold in a can and meant to be burned directly in the can. It is popular in commercial food service and home entertainment, and its primary use is as a fuel for heating chafing dishes in buffets and serving. Sterno is made from ethanol denatured by adding methanol, water, and an amphoteric oxide gelling agent, plus, in recent decades, a safety dye that gives it a characteristic pink color. The methanol is added to denature the product, which is intended to make it too toxic for consumption. A 7-ounce (200 g) can of Sterno will burn for up to two hours. Sterno is also used for camping and outdoor activities as a heat source.

Sterno is owned by Sterno Products, a portfolio company of Westar Capital LLC, based in Corona, California. The brand was purchased from Blyth, Inc. in late 2012, which had acquired the business from Colgate-Palmolive in 1997.

It is important to note that Sterno contains methyl alcohol which makes it poisonous. In spite of this, there are many instances of people drinking Sterno to become intoxicated as a form of surrogate alcohol. Moreover, the methanol can cause permanent blindness by destruction of the optic nerves.

In summary, Sterno is a brand of jellied, denatured alcohol that is used as a fuel for heating chafing dishes in buffets and serving, as well as for camping and outdoor activities. It is made from ethanol denatured by adding methanol, water, and an amphoteric oxide gelling agent, plus a safety dye that gives it a characteristic pink color. Sterno is poisonous and should not be consumed.