Abstract: In order to explore the influence of farming mode on the quality of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), a comparative study was conducted on edible quality of grass carp between traditional pond farming and recirculating aquaculture system. The results showed that the muscle quality and edible quality of grass carp farmed in recirculating water were better than those farmed in the traditional pond. The whiteness and springiness of recirculating aquaculture grass carp were higher than those of traditional pond farmed grass carp, the contents of unsaturated fatty acids and essential amino acids in recirculating water aquaculture grass carp were significantly higher than those in the traditional pond. The contents of n-3 and n-6 unsaturated fatty acids in recirculating water aquaculture grass carp were significantly higher than those in the traditional pond grass carp, indicating better nutritional characteristics and better muscle quality. Besides, the contents of the total amino acids in recirculating cultured grass carp was significantly higher than that of traditional cultured grass carp, which made grass carp have higher nutritional characteristics. The contents of protein in grass carp cultured by recirculating aquaculture was higher, in line with contemporary nutrition. Recirculating aquaculture could reduce the contents of hexanal, heptanal and 1-octen-3-ol in grass carp with off-odor, and the content of hypoxanthine nucleotide (IMP) was higher than that in the traditional pond, which made grass carp taste more delicious and dense. The results showed that the muscle quality and nutritional characteristics of grass carp farmed in recirculating water were better than those of the traditional pond.