Uvalco Blog

The holiday season is a great time to deep fry a turkey.  The concept of deep frying a turkey hit about 15 years ago and has been increasing in popularity ever since.  We sold many turkey fryer kits during the Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas should be even better.  Uvalco Supply sells both turkey fryer kits with the burner and turkey fryer kits without the burners.  We even sell just the basket for those who have stock pots and burners and need only a basket to fry their turkey.

Before tackling the project of deep frying a turkey there are a few things to know.  The first of which is the proper equipment.  The turkey frying kit shown to the right has everything you will need.  It includes the burner, pot, turkey rack, seasoning injector and thermometer.  All you need now is a full propane bottle and you will have all you’ll need. 

The fryer pot has a 32qt. capacity so you will need to find a turkey at probably no more than 14lbs., 12lbs. would be better.  The selection of frying oil is very simple but important as you will want to select one that has a high smoke point like peanut, canola or corn oil.  Your local grocery store carries oil in large quantity containers so getting 2-4 gallons at a time should not be a problem.  The kit shown includes a marinade injector for your favorite marinades before yo fry. 

The proper way to gauge how much oil you will need.  To do this, put the turkey in the frying basket or on the turkey rack and lower into the pot.  Then add water to cover the turkey leaving plenty of space between the surface of the water and top of the pot.  Mark the water level, drain the pot and thoroughly dry before adding oil.  The best place to fry is on a level patch of dirt or gravel away from all structures.  Avoid frying on a deck or in a garage as hot oil is flammable.  Children and pets should never be near the turkey frying area.  Another good idea is to have a fire extinguisher handy just in case.  Forget the garden hose.  If you spray water on an oil fire you will have an instant inferno.  Remember that oil will stain concrete surfaces.

Heat the oil to 325-350 degrees F and slowly lower the turkey into the pot.   Cooking time is 3 minutes per pound.  Do not over-cook or the turkey will be black on the outside.  It may, however, still be edible on the inside so don’t panic if there is a little bit of char here and there.  If you fry the turkey at too low of a temperature the turkey may have a tendency to be a little greasy but a properly fried turkey will be moist but not a hinty of grease.  Temperature of the breast should be no less than 170 degrees and 180 degrees and the thigh.  Order yours online today at uvalco.com.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.

It doesn’t seem possible but Christmas time is rapidly approaching and it is never too soon to do your holiday shopping for the outdoors-man on your list.  Uvalco Supply has a huge variety of gift items for anyone on your list.  Before I list any suggestions for gift ideas, I feel it is necessary to mention that Uvalco makes strides to make sure we have the most durable, well built products on the market.  Many of our suppliers have a very short customer list and you will find products here that you will not find at a big box retailer or outdoor outfitter. 

One of the benefits of living in the southern part of the U.S. is that we can enjoy the outdoors for the better part of all twelve months.  Winter is especially enjoyable in Texas where the days are warmer and the nights are just a little chilly.  Nothing feels quite like a camp fire on a cool night.  Uvalco fire pits or disk grills as we call them are perfect for a cozy fire in any outdoor setting.  The pots are made from 1/4″ steel and they are hand crafted right here at Uvalco Supply.  They are available in 24″, 30″, 36″ and 48″. These are not the flimsy units that are mass marketed by the big retailers.  A great gift for anyone who enjoys cooking outside or enjoying a glass of wine around the fire.  All cooking grills are removable to make an open firepit.  Visit Uvalco Supply online to purchase yours today and have it shipped right to your door in time for Christmas.

If shrimp & crawfish boils and frying are more up your sportsman’s alley, choose from one of our many handmade propane cookers.  All of our propane cookers are built from 1/8″ hot rolled flat and round steel and include a 5′ hose and propane regulator so they are ready to cook.  Select from 1 burner, 2 burner or 3 burner units that can be used with or without legs which are included and stow easily on the side of the frame when not in use.  Don’t forget to add side tables (sold separately) to one or both ends of the cooker to add food preparation space.  Also available are cooker carts that have 2 burners with a preparation area in between and a set of wheels attached for mobility.   All of our propane cooker units are made here in Texas and built to last a lifetime.

As long as you’re getting your cooker you should pick up your cookware as well.  Uvalco Supply carries a large selection of Lodge brand cast iron cookware, deep fryers, aluminum stock pots and handmade griddles the will compliment any of our propane cookers.  Remember, Uvalco Supply specializes in large, durable hard to find items to feed the largest crowds and last forever.

Uvalco Supply also has one of the largest selections of Bar-B-Que pits and grills in south Texas.  Choose anything from a tabletop grills all the way up to our trailer pits and anything in between.  All of the Bar-B-Que pits we stock are made from the best materials and display fine craftsmanship.  All of our items are able to be shipped either UPS or common carrier so get your gifts today at Uvalco Supply.

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the insects!  If you’ve had your evening porch-sitting or picnic interrupted by pesky pests, you need to pick up one of these Black Flag Bug Foggers:

Black Flag Propane Fogger

Powered by a standard propane cylinder, this fogger provides a dense, penetrating insect-killing fog that eliminates bugs from your backyard or campsite.  Just one ounce of fogger creates 2,000 cubic feet of fog in seconds.

And talk about Texas-sized – have we got a humdinger of a hummingbird feeder for you!

Hummingbird Feeder

Drop in to Uvalco and visit our extensive collection of lawn and garden tools and accessories that help you enjoy the great Texas outdoors no matter what the season!

Have you ever been searching for a product to purchase and had the thought that you need a bigger one or a more durable one?  Most of our customers have.  The remoteness and adverse weather conditions  of South Texas require that a product holds up whether it is a tool or a toy.  When we add a product or product line, whether we manufacture it here at Uvalco or buy it from a supplier, we do all we can to make sure it will meet the expectations of our customers.

3000# "Grandote" Protein Feeder

We also think that size matters when it comes to farm and ranch supplies, outdoor cooking equipment, bbq pits, cattle guards, game feeders and protein feeders just to name a few.  People in and around Uvalde like big items to serve big crowds of hungry people, supply big ranches and feed big whitetail deer so we buy as big as we can as often as we can to accommodate our customer’s needs.

******** 24" Portable Smoker ********

You can come to see us in person at 2521 E. Main St. in Uvalde, TX or visit us online at Uvalco Supply to see and buy our products.   If you have any questions, our knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you.  We are just a phone call away at 866-300-4141.

There’s nothing like sitting outside in the cool of a summer evening, feeling the breeze and listening to the stillness at the end of a long day. We have a favorite rocker that we like to relax in with a cool one…you know what we mean!

When it comes to rockers, we in Uvalde like ours nice and roomy….like this rustic double rocker from Uvalco Supply:

Rustic Double Rocker

If you like to swing with your sweetie, then our Rustic A-Frame Double Rocker is the perfect choice, with a nice table that holds your favorite beverages and snacks:

Rustic A-Frame Double Rocker

And don’t let those pesky bugs keep you out of the great outdoors. Pick up one of our Uvalco handheld bug zappers – over 8,000 of these have been sold and we’ve found them to be the absolute best on the market!

Bug Zapper

Summer in Texas is all about cookin’ – whether it’s cookin’ from the heat or on a great grill. And it seems like everyone looks to Dad to do the honors. Since Father’s Day is almost here, we thought we’d share some of our favorites in terms of equipment and recipes. Fire it up!

BBQ Grills & Smokers

Uvalco is particularly known for our unique line of BBQ grills, BBQ smokers, and outdoor fire pits. Handcrafted by our metal works artisans, Uvalco’s BBQ smokers, pits and grills are as attractive as they are functional. Most of the welding is polished or hidden from sight so you get beautiful, heavy duty cookers and smokers that cook evenly and last a lifetime.

Here’s a versatile favorite, our tabletop grill. It’s perfect for tailgating, camping and picnics and because it’s constructed of premium grade steel, it lasts forever.

Tabel Top BBQ Grill

Prime Cuts

Looking for something unusual for your Texas-lovin’ Dad? Round up one of our unique cutting boards:

Texas Longhorn cutting board

Texas Lone Star Longhorn cutting board

Serious Eats

At Uvalco, we’re serious about our eating and one of our favorite websites on the subject is seriouseats.com. Check out this article on Adam Perry Lang’s Great Grilling Tips – his book, Serious Barbeque, is the hottest selling cookbook this season and is a great gift for Dad.

Wondering what to do with dad this weekend?  Bring him on in!  Dads love to come to Uvalco Supply and wonder aimlessly through our store.  It is a man’s store with all the cool stuff guys like - everything to do with farming, ranching and hunting.  We’ve spoken to the guys in the store and they’ve said dads simply love to walk through the aisle and hang out.  Be sure to come on Saturday, though - we’re closed Sunday so we can be at home firing up our favorite Uvalco BBQ Grill with all of dad’s favorites!

If you’re going to be grilling for Dad, come get some of our BBQ sauces, rubs and smoking chips to liven up that rack of ribs, steak or burger.  We’ve got plenty of BBQ accessories too, so you’ll be ready for that summer cooking. 

BBQ Tool Set (19 Piece with Wood Handle)

Wine Barrel Stave Bundles

 And, if you sometimes feel like telling dad to take a hike, we’ve go the best way to do it - with our Cedar Walking Stick.  Each piece of cedar is carefully chosen, cut, sanded, and sprayed with a protective clear coat lacquer to bring out the cedar’s natural beauty.  The finished staff is an attractive and useful walking aid that’s firm and relatively lightweight - an ideal choice for hikers or casual walkers alike.

Cedar Walking Stick