3 essential food hacks to cut your prep time and up the flavour

There are lots of tips out there for making cooking a breeze, but trust us when we say that not all of them are created equal. We love a good hack here at The Goods, so we are always putting them to the test and sharing our favourites. We've shown you how to up your entertaining game, and even how to clean up after cooking, but this series of hacks are made purely with deliciousness in mind. From perfectly poached eggs to a delicious – yet unconventional – marinade for chicken, these food fixes will have you saving time in the kitchen while you whip up the most delicious meals, from brunch through to dinner.

Plastic wrap poached eggs

Poaching eggs can be pretty finicky, so here's a hack to make this brunch staple a breeze.

Here's what you'll need:

• Ramekin
• Plastic wrap
• Cooking spray
• Twist tie or string
• Egg
• Slotted spoon
• Pot of boiling water

Here's how to do it:

1. Place a square piece of plastic wrap over the ramekins.

2. Spray plastic with cooking spray.

3. Crack an egg inside the plastic, and then wrap it up and tie it closed.

4. Place inside a pot of boiling water for five minutes.

5. Use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs, untie, unwrap and enjoy!

Sweet potato toast

Avocado on toast has been totally on trend lately, but some say it's even more delicious if you replace the bread with sweet potato. Roasting a sweet potato can take forever though, so to speed up the process, cut your sweet potato, throw it in the toaster, and it will be roasted, toasted and delicious without the wait.

Here's what you'll need:

• Sweet potato
• Toaster
• Avocado
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Lemon juice

Here's how to do it:

1. Take a raw dry, sweet potato, cut into a bread-sized piece, and toast it three to four times on a medium setting.

2. Take the pieces out of the toaster and add some avocado slices on top.

3. Then drizzle olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste and enjoy.

Pickle juice marinade

Lots of us get to the last pickle in a jar and simply toss away the pickle juice, but this hack uses it to marinate chicken breasts to add flavour and help tenderize the meat. Be sure to use dill pickle juice – not the sweet kind – for the best flavour.

Here's what you'll need:

• Leftover dill pickle juice
• A jar with a lid
• Chicken breasts

Here's how to do it:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the jar with the pickle juice, making sure they are fully submerged. Put the lid on. It's a good idea to label clearly as "Do not eat!"

2. Leave in your fridge for about 24 hours.

3. Grill it up and enjoy!