All prey items are scented with their own smell whether they are frozen or fresh. Cutting open a pinky or fuzzy(called "braining") is usually only used after several failed feeding attempts for newborns that have not taken food at all for a specified amount of time after hatching. So you don't have to worry about doing it any longer.
Leave the snake shed in peace, spray the tank to maintain humidity for shedding as needed(60-70% I believe). Soaking and handling the snake will only stress it out. You want to keep stress levels as low as possible, especially for a younger snake learning the ways of being a snake.
