Brasero (heater)

A brasero is a heater commonly used in Spain. It is placed under a table covered with a cloth that extends to the floor to provide heat for people sitting at the table. This arrangement is similar to the Japanese kotatsu. Modern braseros are electric, but in the past they have been coal fired.

The "brasero" is considered a dangerous furniture inside a house, because embers are generated but not protected. In fact, a lot of fires have been set up because the cloth has touched the "brasero". Because the "brasero" is covered, combustion performed with small quantities of oxygen, and instead of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide is generated. This is the main reason because a lot of people have been poisoned in the night without noticing it, specially when the room was poorly ventilated.

In South America, notably Argentina, a brasero is a small grill attached to a box with coals used to serve meats sizzling hot at an asado.