Slitting the nut shell allows water to get in, but the most noticeable effect is to sharpen the astringent flavor of the skin of the nut, making peeling absolutely mandatory. Note that unsoaked, raw peeled nuts have a very sweet, agreeable flavor. Remove skin for best flavor. 4.4 Coconuts Coconuts require 4 or more months to sprout, and supermarket coconuts probably won't sprout. If you really want to sprout a coconut, you will need a fresh, mature raw nut with its husk intact.
Sprouting coconuts are edible, and are considered a delicacy in some tropical countries.
As they grow, the coconut flesh changes from liquid to a soft jelly, then to a chewy consistency, and finally to hard flesh. Soaking in water has little effect on raw, shelled nuts. Buy in-shell or raw, shelled. The nuts are shelled mechanically, then graded. One grading method that is used involves immersing the shelled nuts in brine, which requires additional rinses and further oven drying afterwards.