If peanuts can be chopped up finely and still be dry, how come grinding them makes them pasty?

Question

If peanuts can be chopped up finely and still be dry, how come grinding them makes them pasty?

In: 29

Answer 1

When peanuts are chopped up finely, the pieces are still relatively large and the surface area is not as exposed as when they are ground into a paste. The grinding process breaks down the peanuts into much smaller pieces, which exposes more surface area and allows the oils to be released. This causes the peanuts to become pasty.