Polyphosphate glass (sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium polyphosphate, glassy) was identified and tested as a source of phosphate that supports growth of recombinant Escherichia coli to cell densities over 110 g dry wt/L. Polyphosphate glasses cost no more than sodium and potassium phosphates, are more soluble than any other inorganic phosphate source, and do not form metallophosphate precipitates when mixed with other nutrients in proportions found in fermentation medias. Using a typical fermentation medium, 40% higher cell densities were obtained using polyphosphate glass rather than orthophosphate. Polyphosphate glasses will allow more flexibility in designing and executing high cell density fermentations.