For the most part, you'll just find the optimal rank on recipe database sites, like Zam, Eorzeopedia, yg, or mooglebox.com. Then you'll make your choices grinding recipes depending on what mats you have in stock, or what mats you think you can get easily/cheaply.

For an in-depth look at why optimal ranks are deemed for recipes, you can look at this yg thread.

Edit: Woops, like Aeyis, I now see that Tymora beat me to the post.