The invention generally provides gypsum-containing slurries including stucco, trimetaphosphate salt, and naphthalenesulfonate dispersant, wherein the trimetaphosphate salt is present in an amount of at least about 0.12% by weight based on the weight of stucco. Other slurry additives can include accelerators, binders, starch, and paper fiber, glass fiber, and other known ingredients. The invention also comprises the gypsum-containing products made with such slurries, for example, gypsum wallboard, and a method of making gypsum wallboard.