Sodium nitrite has three functions:

1. It prevents the growth of botulinum toxin. Otherwise, if you eat food that may contain botulinum toxin, you will have to wait to go to the hospital.

2. Improve the taste of braised products.

3. Reacts with myoglobin contained in meat to produce nitric oxide myoglobin. It can take on a bright pink color during the heating process.

Note:

Excessive sodium nitrite can cause acute poisoning.

And it can be converted into carcinogen nitrite in the human body, so you should not eat more.