I've been using the same breadboard modules for more than 20 years.
They are soft enough that never I broke the micros taken hundreds of times, for each project, for reprogramming in the PICstart plus.
Just as a precaution and to avoid any harm to my fingers I use a set of extractors bought 25 years ago at Radio Shack USA.
BTW, could you buy a new micro?. Your time, is most probably, much more valuable than any micro.
In fact, I always buy three of each. Never stopped after burning one of them during a weekend.