The problem with electric freezers is that they don't have sufficient power, and tend to stop way before the ice cream is done enough. And of course hand cranking is takes a lot of muscle, especially once the ice cream begins to stiffen (the longer you can crank, the better the ice cream - just don't overdo it and break anything). But if you can find two freezers - one electric and one crank - with tops that are interchangeable, here's what I do. Start making it with the electric top. Let it go until the motor stops, then quickly switch to the crank top. Be careful not to let the tub float up and trap ice underneath! Now, (since you have two machines) you can immediately start a second batch, perhaps a different recipe or flavor, in the second tub with the electric motor. By the time it stops on this batch, the first one should be done so that the crank top can be switched over to batch two. This saves a LOT of cranking, plus you can make twice the ice cream in much less time!
The problem with electric freezers is that they don't have sufficient power, and tend to stop way before the ice cream is done enough. And of course hand cranking is takes a lot of muscle, especially once the ice cream begins to stiffen (the longer you can crank, the better the ice cream - just don't overdo it and break anything). But if you can find two freezers - one electric and one crank - with tops that are interchangeable, here's what I do. Start making it with the electric top. Let it go until the motor stops, then quickly switch to the crank top. Be careful not to let the tub float up and trap ice underneath! Now, (since you have two machines) you can immediately start a second batch, perhaps a different recipe or flavor, in the second tub with the electric motor. By the time it stops on this batch, the first one should be done so that the crank top can be switched over to batch two. This saves a LOT of cranking, plus you can make twice the ice cream in much less time!