Grading Peanut: Key Features, Material Grades, and Practical Uses in Industry

Types of Grading Peanuts: Quality, Uses & Processing

Grading peanuts is a critical process in the agricultural and food manufacturing industries that ensures consistency, quality, and safety. Proper grading involves sorting peanuts based on size, shape, moisture content, maturity, and presence of defects. This classification helps determine their best use—whether for direct consumption, oil extraction, peanut butter production, or specialty snacks. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the major types of graded peanuts and their applications.

Raw Peanuts

Untreated and unroasted, raw peanuts are often graded for size, weight, and shell integrity before further processing. They retain their natural flavor and are ideal for custom roasting, seasoning, or industrial use.

Advantages

• Pure, unaltered flavor profile
• Versatile for cooking and processing
• Ideal for peanut butter and oil production
• Long shelf life when stored properly

Limitations

• Require thorough cleaning and grading
• Higher risk of contamination if not handled properly
• Not ready-to-eat; require processing

Best for: Industrial processing, homemade roasting, oil extraction, and bulk buyers

Roasted Salted Peanuts

A popular snack variety, roasted salted peanuts are heat-treated to enhance flavor and texture, then seasoned with salt. Grading ensures uniform roasting and consistent taste across batches.

Advantages

• Crispy texture and savory flavor
• Ready-to-eat convenience
• High consumer demand globally
• Excellent shelf stability

Limitations

• May contain added sodium (a concern for health-conscious consumers)
• Over-roasting can lead to bitterness
• Requires precise grading for uniform roasting

Best for: Snack packaging, vending, trail mixes, and food service industries

Honey Roasted Peanuts

Sweetened with honey, sugar, or alternative sweeteners, these peanuts feature a glossy coating and a rich, sticky-sweet flavor. Grading ensures even coating and consistent size for optimal taste and appearance.

Advantages

• Appeals to sweet snack lovers
• Highly marketable in retail and gift packs
• Great for energy-boosting snacks and trail mixes
• Attractive glossy finish enhances visual appeal

Limitations

• Higher sugar content may deter health-focused buyers
• Coating can attract moisture, reducing shelf life
• More complex production process requiring precise grading

Best for: Confectionery products, gift baskets, sweet snack lines, and outdoor recreation markets

Peanut Butter Peanuts

Select-grade peanuts used specifically for peanut butter production. These are meticulously graded for size, oil content, and absence of defects to ensure a smooth, consistent texture and rich flavor.

Advantages

• Produces high-quality, uniform peanut butter
• Optimal oil-to-solid ratio for creamy or chunky varieties
• Minimizes waste during processing
• Meets strict food safety and texture standards

Limitations

• Requires premium-grade peanuts, increasing cost
• Less suitable for direct consumption or roasting
• High dependency on grading accuracy

Best for: Commercial peanut butter brands, organic spreads, and gourmet food manufacturers

Organic Peanuts

Grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs, organic peanuts are certified under strict agricultural standards. Grading includes verifying size uniformity, absence of chemical residues, and compliance with organic certification requirements.

Advantages

• Free from synthetic chemicals and GMOs
• Preferred by eco-conscious and health-focused consumers
• Higher market value and brand trust
• Promotes sustainable farming practices

Limitations

• Higher production and certification costs
• Lower yields compared to conventional farming
• Stricter storage and handling requirements

Best for: Organic food brands, natural grocery stores, export markets, and environmentally responsible consumers

Type	Primary Use	Grading Focus	Shelf Life	Market Demand
Raw Peanuts	Processing, oil, roasting	Size, weight, shell quality	6–12 months (dry storage)	High (industrial)
Roasted Salted	Ready-to-eat snacks	Uniformity, roast level, salt distribution	3–6 months	Very High
Honey Roasted	Sweet snacks, trail mixes	Coating consistency, size uniformity	2–4 months	Moderate to High
Peanut Butter Peanuts	Peanut butter production	Quality, oil content, defect-free	6–9 months	High (commercial)
Organic Peanuts	Organic food products	Certification, size, chemical-free status	6–12 months	High (niche/growing)

Expert Tip: Investing in automated peanut grading machines improves accuracy, reduces labor costs, and ensures consistent product quality. Look for systems that use optical sorting, weight calibration, and moisture sensors for the best results across all peanut types.

Understanding the different types of graded peanuts helps farmers, processors, and buyers make informed decisions about cultivation, processing, and marketing. Whether producing gourmet snacks or industrial ingredients, proper grading is essential for maximizing value, minimizing waste, and meeting consumer expectations in today’s competitive food market.

Use Scenarios of Grading Peanuts: Ensuring Quality Across Industries

Grading peanuts is a critical step in the agricultural supply chain that directly impacts product quality, safety, efficiency, and profitability across multiple industries. By sorting peanuts based on size, maturity, color, and defects, grading ensures consistency, enhances food safety, and meets consumer expectations. Below are key use cases where peanut grading plays a pivotal role in maintaining high standards and operational success.

Peanut Butter Production

Peanut butter manufacturers rely on uniform, high-quality peanuts to achieve the desired smooth or crunchy texture and consistent flavor profile. Grading separates premium-grade peanuts from those with cracks, foreign material, or size inconsistencies, ensuring only suitable nuts enter processing.

Ungraded or poorly sorted peanuts can introduce contaminants such as stones or damaged kernels, which may damage grinding equipment, increase downtime, and raise maintenance costs. Inconsistent raw materials also lead to variations in oil content, texture, and taste—compromising product quality and customer satisfaction.

Effective grading minimizes these risks, supports continuous production flow, and maintains brand integrity by delivering a reliable end product every time.

Snacking Industry

In the roasted peanut market—especially for salted, honey-roasted, or flavored varieties—consumer expectations are centered around consistency in size, crunch, seasoning, and overall flavor. Grading ensures that each batch contains peanuts of similar dimensions and quality, allowing for even roasting and uniform coating application.

Without proper grading, smaller or immature peanuts may over-roast while larger ones remain underdone, leading to inconsistent taste and texture. This variability erodes consumer trust and can result in increased customer complaints, product returns, or the need for costly reprocessing.

By maintaining batch homogeneity, grading reduces waste, improves yield, and strengthens brand loyalty through dependable product performance.

Snack Foods and Confectionery

Gourmet snack mixes, chocolate bars, candies, and baked goods often feature peanuts as a key ingredient. In these applications, appearance, crunch, and flavor stability are crucial. Grading ensures that only the largest, firmest, and most visually appealing peanuts are selected for inclusion.

Lower-grade peanuts—such as those with splits, discoloration, or rancidity—can negatively impact the sensory qualities of confectionery products, leading to off-flavors or undesirable textures. Moreover, food manufacturers must comply with strict quality control regulations; failure to meet standards due to poor ingredient selection can result in recalls, regulatory penalties, or reputational damage.

Grading acts as a preventive measure, enabling confectioners to meet food safety and quality benchmarks while delivering premium products.

Trail Mix and Health Snacks

Health-conscious consumers expect trail mixes and protein-rich snacks to be both nutritious and safe. Peanuts used in these blends must be uniformly roasted and evenly coated with honey, spices, or other flavorings. Grading ensures size consistency, which is essential for balanced roasting and flavor distribution.

Beyond aesthetics, grading plays a vital role in food safety. It helps eliminate peanuts that show signs of mold, aflatoxin contamination, pesticide residue, or spoilage—risks that are particularly concerning in organic or natural product lines.

By removing substandard or potentially hazardous nuts before processing, grading protects consumer health, supports compliance with food safety standards (such as HACCP and FDA guidelines), and reduces the risk of product recalls.

Market Pricing and Value

The economic value of peanuts is heavily influenced by grading. Markets and buyers assign higher prices to well-graded peanuts due to their superior processing efficiency, longer shelf life, and better end-product outcomes. Size uniformity, low defect rates, and optimal moisture content all contribute to premium pricing.

Conversely, ungraded or poorly sorted peanuts are often downgraded, resulting in lower market value. While this may offer short-term cost savings for farmers or suppliers, it shifts quality risks downstream—leading to increased processing costs, higher rejection rates, and potential financial losses for manufacturers.

Over time, consistent grading enhances marketability, fosters stronger buyer relationships, and supports sustainable profitability throughout the supply chain. It also enables traceability and transparency, which are increasingly important in global food markets.

Operational Efficiency & Sustainability

Beyond end-product quality, grading improves operational efficiency by reducing machine wear, minimizing product variability, and lowering rework rates. Uniform peanuts require less energy to roast, grind, or coat, translating into reduced energy consumption and lower carbon footprint.

Additionally, precise grading reduces food waste by identifying and removing unsuitable peanuts early in the process. This supports sustainability goals and aligns with industry trends toward responsible sourcing and zero-waste production.

Automated grading systems using optical sorting, density separation, and AI-driven imaging further enhance accuracy and throughput, making large-scale operations more scalable and cost-effective.

Industry Application	Key Benefits of Peanut Grading	Consequences of Poor Grading
Peanut Butter Manufacturing	Uniform texture, reduced equipment damage, consistent flavor	Machinery breakdowns, inconsistent product, higher maintenance
Roasted & Flavored Snacks	Even roasting, consistent seasoning, improved consumer satisfaction	Over/under-roasted batches, flavor imbalance, customer complaints
Confectionery Products	High visual appeal, compliance with quality standards, fewer recalls	Texture flaws, regulatory issues, brand damage
Trail Mixes & Health Snacks	Food safety, toxin removal, homogeneous blends	Health risks, inconsistent taste, consumer distrust
Market Sales & Distribution	Premium pricing, buyer confidence, long-term profitability	Lower value, rejection by processors, supply chain inefficiencies

Best Practices in Peanut Grading

Size and Shape Sorting: Use screens or optical sorters to separate peanuts by length, width, and shape for application-specific needs.

Defect Detection: Remove discolored, cracked, moldy, or insect-damaged kernels using color sorters and AI-based vision systems.

Maturity Assessment: Grade based on skin color and kernel development to ensure optimal roasting and flavor.

Moisture Control: Maintain ideal moisture levels (typically 6–8%) to prevent spoilage and ensure shelf stability.

Contaminant Removal: Eliminate stones, sticks, and metal fragments using magnetic separators, density tables, and air classifiers.

Batch Traceability: Implement digital tracking systems to monitor grading outcomes and support quality assurance protocols.

Important: Proper peanut grading is not just a quality control step—it's a strategic investment in safety, efficiency, and market competitiveness. Skipping or cutting corners in grading can lead to equipment damage, regulatory violations, consumer harm, and loss of brand reputation. Always follow industry standards (such as USDA grading guidelines) and invest in modern sorting technologies to maximize yield, safety, and profitability.

International Shipping Considerations for Graded Peanuts

Shipping peanuts across international borders requires careful attention to quality, compliance, and logistics. Proper grading of peanuts is not just a quality assurance step—it is a critical component of successful global trade. From meeting international food safety standards to ensuring freshness upon delivery, each aspect of peanut grading directly impacts the efficiency, legality, and profitability of international shipments.

Compliance with International Standards

Graded peanuts must adhere to globally recognized food safety and quality benchmarks, particularly those established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). These standards ensure that food products are safe, wholesome, and fairly traded across borders.

• All graded peanut batches must meet Codex specifications for moisture content, aflatoxin levels, foreign matter, and overall purity.
• Non-compliant shipments may be rejected at ports, leading to costly rejections, fines, or bans from key markets.
• Conforming to Codex standards enhances credibility with importers and regulatory bodies in destination countries.

Key benefit: Compliance reduces the risk of shipment rejection and strengthens market access in regions with strict food safety regulations.

Customs Documentation and Trade Efficiency

Accurate and complete documentation is essential for smooth customs clearance. Graded peanuts come with verifiable quality data, enabling precise and trustworthy paperwork that facilitates faster processing.

• Required documents include Certificates of Grade and Quality, Phytosanitary Certificates, Bills of Lading, and commercial Invoices referencing grading results.
• Properly graded peanuts support traceable, auditable records that customs officials rely on to verify product safety and origin.
• Incomplete or inconsistent documentation due to poor grading can result in delays, inspections, storage fees, or even cargo seizure.

Pro tip: Use standardized grading reports integrated with digital export documentation systems to minimize errors and speed up customs approval.

Bulk Packaging and Shipping Integrity

International peanut shipments are typically transported in bulk—via containers, flexitanks, or super sacks—requiring robust packaging standards to maintain quality during long transit periods.

• Graded peanuts are packaged according to international shipping standards (e.g., ISO, ISTA) to prevent moisture ingress, mold growth, and physical damage.
• Proper containerization includes moisture barriers, ventilation considerations, and secure stacking protocols to avoid crushing or contamination.
• Poorly graded or inconsistently sized peanuts may settle unevenly, increasing the risk of spoilage and reducing usable yield upon arrival.

Critical factor: Uniform grading enables optimized packing density and airflow, preserving product integrity across ocean or land freight.

Quality Control and Full Traceability

Traceability is a cornerstone of international food safety. Each batch of graded peanuts must be fully traceable from farm to port, supporting transparency and rapid response in case of quality concerns.

• Grading systems often include batch coding linked to harvest location, date, farm ID, and processing facility data.
• This traceability supports compliance with EU General Food Law, FDA FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act), and other regulatory frameworks.
• In the event of contamination or quality deviation, traceable grading allows for targeted recalls—minimizing financial loss and reputational damage.

Best practice: Implement digital traceability platforms that integrate grading data with blockchain or cloud-based logistics tracking.

Shelf Life and Freshness Preservation

Proper grading directly contributes to longer shelf life by ensuring uniformity in moisture content, kernel size, and absence of damaged or mold-prone kernels.

• Consistently graded peanuts are less prone to hot spots in storage, which can accelerate rancidity and aflatoxin development.
• Uniform packaging based on grade improves oxygen control and reduces oxidative spoilage during extended shipping durations.
• Buyers in destination markets receive a predictable, high-quality product that meets shelf-life expectations and retail standards.

Quality impact: Grading reduces spoilage rates by up to 30% during long-haul shipments, significantly improving customer satisfaction and reducing claims.

Market Access and Competitive Advantage

Beyond compliance, consistent peanut grading enhances marketability and builds trust with international buyers.

• Importers prefer suppliers with reliable grading systems, reducing their need for re-inspection or reprocessing.
• High-grade peanuts command premium pricing in markets like the EU, Japan, and Canada, where quality thresholds are strict.
• Regular third-party audits of grading processes can be used as a marketing tool to demonstrate commitment to excellence.

Strategic advantage: A strong grading system positions exporters as reliable, professional partners in global supply chains.

Expert Insight: To maximize success in international peanut trade, integrate grading with a comprehensive export strategy. This includes pre-shipment lab testing, adherence to destination country import requirements, and investment in tamper-evident, climate-appropriate packaging. Proactive grading not only ensures compliance but transforms your product into a trusted commodity in competitive global markets.

Shipping Factor	Impact of Proper Grading	Risk of Poor Grading	Recommended Practice
Customs Clearance	Fast, smooth processing with verified documentation	Delays, inspections, or rejection	Use certified grading reports with all export paperwork
Product Quality	Consistent size, color, and moisture levels	Inconsistency, spoilage, buyer complaints	Grade using optical sorters and moisture analyzers
Shelf Life	Extended freshness (6–12 months under proper conditions)	Early rancidity or mold development	Vacuum-seal or nitrogen-flush packaging for long voyages
Traceability	Full batch tracking from farm to buyer	Unclear origin, recall complications	Implement digital batch logging with QR codes

Additional Best Practices for Global Peanut Exports

• Pre-Shipment Inspections: Conduct third-party quality audits before loading to ensure grading accuracy and compliance.
• Language & Labeling: Provide multilingual labels and documentation tailored to the importing country’s requirements.
• Climate Considerations: Adjust packaging for tropical or cold climates to prevent condensation and spoilage.
• Insurance & Claims: Insure shipments based on graded value; proper grading supports valid claims in case of loss.
• Sustainability Credentials: Leverage grading data to support certifications like ISO 22000, HACCP, or organic compliance for premium markets.

Benefits of Grading Peanuts: Enhancing Quality, Safety, and Profitability

Grading peanuts is a vital agricultural and food processing practice that ensures consistency, safety, and market competitiveness. By systematically evaluating peanuts based on size, shape, moisture content, color, and freedom from defects, grading plays a crucial role in maintaining high standards across the supply chain—from farm to consumer. This comprehensive process delivers wide-ranging benefits for producers, manufacturers, and consumers alike.

Did You Know? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established official peanut grading standards to ensure uniformity and quality in domestic and international trade. These standards help maintain the reputation of American-grown peanuts as premium agricultural products.

Key Benefits of Peanut Grading

• Quality Assurance

  Grading provides a standardized method for evaluating peanut quality, ensuring that only peanuts meeting specific criteria enter the market. This process guarantees uniformity in size, shape, color, and overall condition, which directly impacts the consistency of end products such as peanut butter, snacks, and confectionery items.

  For producers, grading reinforces quality control practices and helps maintain brand integrity. For consumers, it builds trust in product reliability. Consistent quality reduces variability in manufacturing processes and supports compliance with food safety and labeling regulations, ultimately strengthening market confidence in peanut-based goods.

• Increased Market Value

  Graded peanuts command higher prices in the marketplace due to their consistency, visual appeal, and reliability. Buyers—including large-scale food processors, exporters, and retailers—are willing to pay premium rates for graded lots because they reduce processing inefficiencies and ensure predictable outcomes.

  Manufacturers benefit from reduced downtime and fewer production errors when using uniformly graded peanuts. Additionally, premium-grade peanuts open access to specialty markets and export opportunities where quality standards are strictly enforced. This enhanced marketability translates into improved profitability for farmers and processors, while also minimizing financial losses associated with product rejections or customer returns.

• Consumer Satisfaction

  When consumers purchase peanut products, they expect a consistent experience in taste, texture, and appearance. Grading ensures this consistency by eliminating substandard or damaged kernels that could negatively affect flavor or mouthfeel.

  As a result, brands that use graded peanuts enjoy higher customer satisfaction, fewer complaints, and lower return rates. This reliability fosters brand loyalty, encouraging repeat purchases and long-term customer relationships. In an increasingly competitive food market, consistent quality delivered through grading can be a key differentiator that drives sales and brand reputation.

• Reduced Waste and Improved Efficiency

  One of the most significant operational advantages of grading is the reduction of waste throughout the production chain. By separating high-quality peanuts from damaged, broken, or immature ones early in the process, manufacturers avoid using inferior stock that could compromise product quality or damage processing equipment.

  This pre-sorting improves processing efficiency, lowers energy and labor costs, and reduces wear and tear on machinery. Furthermore, it minimizes the use of resources—such as packaging, storage, and transportation—for subpar peanuts that would otherwise be discarded later. The end result is a leaner, more sustainable operation with higher yields of premium-quality products.

• Improved Food Safety

  Grading plays a critical role in food safety by identifying and removing peanuts contaminated with aflatoxins—naturally occurring carcinogenic substances produced by certain molds that thrive in warm, humid conditions. These toxins pose serious health risks and are strictly regulated by food safety authorities worldwide.

  Through visual inspection, moisture testing, and laboratory analysis, grading helps eliminate contaminated batches before they enter the food supply. This proactive approach protects consumer health, safeguards brand reputation, and prevents costly recalls or legal liabilities. Enhanced safety also supports compliance with international export regulations, enabling access to global markets with stringent food safety requirements.

Benefit	Impact on Producers	Impact on Processors	Impact on Consumers
Quality Assurance	Higher crop value, consistent pricing	Reliable raw material supply	Trusted, uniform product quality
Market Value	Premium pricing, better market access	Cost-effective sourcing	Justification for product pricing
Consumer Satisfaction	Stronger brand partnerships	Fewer complaints, stable demand	Consistent taste and texture
Waste Reduction	Less post-harvest loss	Lower processing costs	Fewer product defects
Food Safety	Compliance with regulations	Avoidance of recalls	Health protection, peace of mind

Expert Tip: Regular investment in modern grading technology—such as optical sorters and moisture analyzers—can significantly enhance accuracy and throughput. These tools not only improve quality control but also provide data for traceability and continuous improvement in farming and processing practices.

Conclusion

Peanut grading is far more than a sorting process—it is a cornerstone of quality, safety, and economic sustainability in the peanut industry. From boosting market value and reducing waste to ensuring consumer safety and satisfaction, the benefits of grading extend across the entire supply chain. As consumer expectations rise and global food standards become more rigorous, effective grading practices will remain essential for competitiveness, compliance, and long-term success in the agricultural and food manufacturing sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Peanut Grading

Q1: What is peanut grading?

Peanut grading is a systematic process used to classify peanuts based on a range of quality and physical characteristics. This includes size (kernel diameter), uniformity, moisture content, color, and the presence of defects such as cracks, splits, or discoloration. The goal is to ensure that peanuts meet specific industry standards before they are sold or processed.

Grading plays a crucial role in determining the market value and suitability of peanuts for various end uses. For example:

• Large, uniform kernels are ideal for roasting and selling as gourmet snacks.
• Medium-grade peanuts are commonly used in peanut butter production due to their balanced oil content and texture.
• Lower-grade or fragmented nuts may be used in oil extraction or animal feed.

Standardized grading systems, such as those established by the USDA in the United States, help maintain consistency across domestic and international markets, ensuring transparency and quality assurance throughout the supply chain.

Q2: How do peanuts get graded?

The peanut grading process typically occurs after harvesting and drying, during the post-harvest handling phase. It involves both automated machinery and manual inspection to ensure accuracy and quality control.

Here’s how the process works step by step:

1. Pre-Cleaning: Peanuts are first passed through cleaning systems to remove dirt, stems, stones, and other foreign materials.
2. Size Separation: Grading machines use vibrating screens with different-sized openings to sort peanuts by kernel diameter—typically into categories like jumbo, large, medium, and small.
3. Weight & Density Sorting: Weighing basins and air density separators help differentiate between sound kernels and lightweight, hollow, or damaged ones.
4. Optical Sorting: Advanced systems use digital cameras and sensors to detect color variations, mold, insect damage, or chemical contamination, automatically ejecting defective peanuts.
5. Manual Inspection: Trained personnel visually inspect samples to confirm machine results and remove any remaining off-grade or foreign materials.

This combination of mechanical precision and human oversight ensures high efficiency and reliability, especially in large-scale commercial operations.

Q3: What are the benefits of grading peanuts?

Grading peanuts offers numerous advantages across the agricultural, industrial, and consumer sectors. These benefits extend beyond simple classification to impact safety, profitability, and sustainability.

• Improved Quality Control: Ensures only high-quality peanuts enter the food supply, reducing the risk of spoilage or contamination.
• Higher Market Value: Well-graded peanuts command premium prices, especially in export markets where strict quality standards apply.
• Enhanced Consumer Satisfaction: Consistent size, taste, and texture lead to better end products, whether in snacks, confectionery, or spreads.
• Reduced Waste: By identifying and separating damaged or inedible nuts early, processors minimize losses during production.
• Food Safety Assurance: Removes potentially hazardous contaminants such as aflatoxin-infected peanuts, which can pose serious health risks if consumed.
• Processing Efficiency: Uniform batches allow for optimized roasting times, grinding consistency, and oil extraction rates, improving overall operational performance.

In essence, peanut grading acts as a critical quality gate that supports food safety, economic returns for farmers, and product excellence for manufacturers.

Q4: Which graded peanuts are best for commercial use?

For commercial applications, the most desirable peanuts are those that meet strict criteria for uniformity, purity, and yield potential. These characteristics ensure maximum efficiency and profitability in large-scale processing environments.

Key attributes of commercially optimal graded peanuts include:

• Uniform Size and Shape: Promotes even roasting and consistent texture in final products like peanut butter or candies.
• Freedom from Contaminants: No stones, dirt, metal fragments, or organic debris—critical for food safety and equipment protection.
• Minimal Defects: Low levels of splits, shriveled kernels, or disease damage (e.g., Aspergillus infection) to maintain high-grade status.
• High Kernel Recovery Rate: Maximizes usable product per ton of raw peanuts, reducing waste and increasing yield.
• Advanced Sorting Technology: Commercial operations benefit from grading machines equipped with digital sensors, AI-powered optical sorters, and real-time monitoring systems for rapid, precise classification.

Additionally, compliance with international grading standards (such as USDA Grade A, Extra Large Kernels or EU import specifications) enhances marketability and facilitates global trade. Processors often prefer peanuts graded as "Jumbo" or "Large Runner" types due to their superior oil content and structural integrity.

Q5: What factors are considered in peanut grading?

Peanut grading evaluates multiple physical and compositional factors to determine quality class and end-use suitability. These parameters are standardized to ensure objective and repeatable assessments.

Grading Factor	Description	Importance
Size (Kernel Diameter)	Measured in millimeters; sorted into categories like jumbo (>22mm), large (20–22mm), medium (18–20mm), and small (<18mm).	Determines suitability for roasting, salting, or processing.
Uniformity	Consistency in size, shape, and color within a batch.	Ensures even cooking and professional appearance in packaged goods.
Oil Efficiency (OE) / % Oil Extraction	Measures the amount of oil that can be extracted from a given quantity of peanuts; higher oil content increases value for oil producers.	Directly impacts profitability in oil manufacturing and biodiesel production.
Foreign Materials (FMs)	Includes stones, soil, plant debris, metal, or other non-peanut substances.	Must be minimized (typically <0.5%) to meet food safety and regulatory standards.
Defects & Damages	Counts of broken, sprouted, moldy, or insect-damaged kernels.	Affects grade classification and shelf life; high defect levels result in downgrading.
Moisture Content	Ideal range is 6–8%; too high leads to mold, too low causes brittleness.	Critical for storage stability and preventing aflatoxin development.

These factors are assessed using a combination of mechanical sieves, electronic scales, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR), and visual inspection. Together, they form a comprehensive evaluation system that ensures only the highest-quality peanuts reach consumers and manufacturers alike.