Would someone tell me how to soften sugar?

Grammaretto

Not to do with heat so why microwave? It's the moisture surely.
I've already said I don't own a food processor and even if I did I wouldn't put a rock hard 500gm bag of icing sugar in it unless I wanted to break it.

Well I don't actually think you would break it as that is the suggestion given when you Google hence so many gransnetter telling you to do it.
To soften hard sugar, use a microwave with a damp paper towel for quick results (about 30 seconds on medium), or try the bread/apple slice trick in a sealed container overnight for a gentler method, or even use a low oven for granulated sugar; the key is adding moisture or gentle heat to break up the clumps.

Not to do with heat so why microwave? It's the moisture surely.
I've already said I don't own a food processor and even if I did I wouldn't put a rock hard 500gm bag of icing sugar in it unless I wanted to break it.

Blitz in a food processor then sift.

I have also had success with the bread method.

Warm it in the oven?

Microwave for a minute

It worked with the slice of bread inside a ziplock plastic bag with the rock hard icing sugar still in its paper packet.
I believe it's the moisture it absorbs from the bread, just enough to rehydrate the sugar without wetting it.

I don't possess a food mixer but I would think putting it in one and switching it on would be a recipe for disaster 😅🤣
Thanks for all your suggestions.

How about putting the sugar in a food mixer?

Buy your marzipan ready made !

If the brown bread thing works I wonder if putting the block in a large bowl with a damp teatowel covering the whole bowl would work? I know that works with demerara sugar that has gone hard.

Marshmallow works too, if you have it handy. In a box or bag with the sugar, no need to whack it.

M0nica

Put it in a plastic bag and whack with a rolling pin.

Or a lump hamner house brick.

Bash it with a rolling pin then pop in a processor then remember to sieve.

How festive though.lol

AskAlice-

Just a word of caution for the bag-whacking method...make sure you get all the air out of the bag first and proceed with caution. I tried this method once and the bag burst - the kitchen looked like a winter wonderland and I spent a good hour or so clearing it up!!

I now have a similar problem with caster sugar. Big hard lumps. I think I'll try the bread method this time

Same asMOnica put it in a bag and whack it.

I've been doing the bread method inside a plastic bag and I do believe it's a bit less rocklike. It's icing sugar.
Thank you all. My almond paste may yet work.

Put it in a plastic bag and whack with a rolling pin.

Would wizzing it in a food processor work?

Can you just pop it in the microwave for a minute or so? That works with brown sugar.

Thanks J52 I will give that a go.

I seem to remember that putting it in an air tight plastic box or sealed bag with a slice of brown bread does the trick.