Everyone wants to grill like a pro. There's something special about perfect grill marks and juicy steaks. And you want to be the host who serves up perfectly grilled meats and veggies. But there's more to grilling than just owning the perfect grill.

We're here to help! To release your inner grill master, follow our 3 easy tips.

 START WITH A HOT GRILL

Before you even start grilling, you need to heat your grill to the right temperature. This step is easy for those with a built-in thermometer.

For the rest of us, here's an easy way to tell when the grill's hot enough: Hold your hand around five inches over the grilling surface and count the seconds before you have to take it away. (Don't be macho or you might start out with a grill that's too cool.)

•  5 to 6 seconds: low heat – prep your ingredients while you wait.
• 3 to 4 seconds: medium heat – just a little while longer.
• 1 second: high heat – it's grilling time!

 COOK YOUR STEAK PERFECTLY

The perfectly cooked steak is like a work of art. So that you don't have to poke holes in your perfectly seared steak, here's how to tell if your steak is done by feel.

Start by poking the fleshy base of your thumb with the first finger on your opposite hand. Now you have a feel for the consistency of raw steak. Use the same pressure to feel where the steak is in the cooking process.

•  Rare Steaks

Press your pointer finger to the tip of your thumb while poking your thumb's fleshy base just like before. That's exactly what a rare steak should feel like.

•  Medium-Rare and Medium-Well Done Steaks

A medium-rare steak will feel like when you press your middle finger to the tip of your thumb while poking the base.

A medium-well steak will feel like when you press your ring finger to the tip of your thumb while poking the base.

•  Well-Done Steaks

Press your pinky finger to your thumb and poke the base like before. That's the feel you'll get from a well-done steak.

When your steaks are done, it's time to eat! Take them off the grill and let them rest for 3-5 minutes before digging in.

 GET PERFECT GRILL MARKS

You know how TV commercials and nice restaurants always feature steaks with perfect grill marks? How do they get them? It's easy. Here's how.

•  Grill at 10, Then 2 O'Clock

Imagine that your grill has a giant clock on it. Start by aiming your steaks at 10 o'clock. Give it a few minutes, then turn them so they're aimed at 2 o'clock. When you flip them, follow the same procedure.

• Only Flip Once

You want a crisp crosshatch design. To keep it clean, don't move the steaks after turning them on either side. A neat "10 and 2" sear is crucial to your presentation.

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Now you've got a handle on how to grill like a pro. After this, it's all experience. Recipes, secret sauces … you name it, you're equipped to tackle it. It's time to fire up the grill!