Which factor does not affect the grading of peanuts?

The grading of peanuts primarily focuses on physical characteristics and the quality of the nuts themselves, which include factors such as size, presence of defects, and color. The taste of peanuts, while certainly important for consumer enjoyment and marketability, is not a factor that is quantitatively assessed during the grading process.

Grading standards are specifically designed to evaluate measurable attributes like the size of the peanuts—ensuring uniformity and meeting market expectations—as well as assessing defects, which can indicate quality or potential issues, and the color, which can reflect freshness or attractiveness. Taste, although critical from a consumer's perspective, does not have a defined metric or standard that influences grading decisions. This makes it the outlier in the context of grading criteria.