Sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) is a sodium polyphosphate that grabs and holds calcium and other metal ions — a "sequestrant." That single trick lets it smooth processed cheese, keep minerals from clouding or curdling a liquid, disperse stubborn solids and stop unwanted gelation, all with no flavour of its own.
PAIR's modernist science — how much to use, how it behaves with heat, and what makes it fail — is a Pro feature. The description, nutrition, history and facts stay free.